1 Killed in Car/Train Crash in LaPorte

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justalurker66
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Re: 1 Killed in Car/Train Crash in LaPorte

Unread post by justalurker66 »

Confused ...
"According to witness statements gathered by La Porte Police, a red 2009 Ford truck driven by Tricia White, 43, had entered the railroad crossing as the four-quadrant crossing gates started coming down. It appeared as though White was either attempting to turn around, or drive around the downed gates when the truck became stuck on an inside rail. Both White and her 10-year-old son, who was a passenger, exited the vehicle. The child was able to clear the proximity of the vehicle in time, but White did not. The train collided with the truck which struck White.

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Saturnalia
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Re: 1 Killed in Car/Train Crash in LaPorte

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This week just keeps getting worse! Now we have a child who was put in incredible danger by a negligent adult, who made it out ok but watched his mother die in a rather horrific manner.

I'm becoming convinced that until uncensored media of these accidents is shown to all drivers ed participants and all high school graduates, these incidents, both by pedestrians and motorists, will continue to plague our railroad infrastructure.
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hoborich
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Re: 1 Killed in Car/Train Crash in LaPorte

Unread post by hoborich »

These accidents are always going to happen. Some people are stupid. Others just panic and make the wrong decision. All we can hope for is to reduce the frequency of these accidents. People need to be educated that once on the crossing, they must proceed across ASAP, and never try to back up or turn around. Better to break off the gate arm than to die! Once the gates are down, they only have seconds left to get off the tracks. Perhaps putting the gates down 10 or 15 seconds sooner might help. But it also might encourage more people to go around the gates.
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Norm
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Re: 1 Killed in Car/Train Crash in LaPorte

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Saturnalia wrote:This week just keeps getting worse! Now we have a child who was put in incredible danger by a negligent adult, who made it out ok but watched his mother die in a rather horrific manner.

I'm becoming convinced that until uncensored media of these accidents is shown to all drivers ed participants and all high school graduates, these incidents, both by pedestrians and motorists, will continue to plague our railroad infrastructure.
Have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe, she saw the inevitable and made sure her child got out and sacrificed herself to do so? Yes, she made a bad decision that put her and her child in danger,but mothers will try to protect their children to the point of sacrificing themselves.
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justalurker66
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Re: 1 Killed in Car/Train Crash in LaPorte

Unread post by justalurker66 »

Norm wrote:Have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe, she saw the inevitable and made sure her child got out and sacrificed herself to do so? Yes, she made a bad decision that put her and her child in danger,but mothers will try to protect their children to the point of sacrificing themselves.
No ... I read the article and even quoted a part of it above. She wasted time trying to turn her vehicle on the crossing (instead of ramming the gate), got the vehicle stuck on a rail, then got out of her vehicle with the child and was killed when the train knocked her vehicle into her as a pedestrian. If there was no room to move the vehicle beyond the gate then her best chance of survival would have been to immediately get out and get off of the crossing ... not waste time in the vehicle.

Im my opinion - she got confused, panicked and died.

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Re: 1 Killed in Car/Train Crash in LaPorte

Unread post by hoborich »

I'm becoming convinced that until uncensored media of these accidents is shown to all drivers ed participants and all high school graduates, these incidents, both by pedestrians and motorists, will continue to plague our railroad infrastructure.
I agree. The media shows these things for their sensational value, but blurs out anything and everything that might offend someone, somewhere. People need to see exactly what happens, including bodies wrapped in sheets, being loaded in a coroners van, and an occasional body caught under a locomotive!!!!
"Ask your doctor if medical advice from a TV commercial is right for you".

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