Bicycle vs Train, In case of ties the Train always wins.......

[mrbill]

This could be my nomination for this year's Darwin awards.

Big police scanner action in my little town last night, a 20-30 year old girl on a bicycle played "beat the train" with the Amtrak Heartland Flyer and lost.

The police were on the scene for about a minute before they called for a Justice of the Peace. EMS had to use shovels.

No foul play involved, there were freaked-out witnesses.

Sucide by train? In a hurry to get the the crack dealer? WTF?

[Gormy Cuss]

1. I traveled on an Ameripass one summer

Three weeks of unlimited Amtrak travel, back when there were more long haul trains. I spent about 10 days and nights on trains during that period and our trains hit three cars. The worst was when our train was held for five hours in rural Montana while they "investigated" --- EMS people walking through the fields alongside the train looking for parts.

I also know someone whose was struck while crossing on foot, and this was not someone who would play beat the train. His foot or clothing got caught on the rail or switch and he was mowed down by a train travelling at full speed. Theory was he didn't know it was coming until it was practically on top of him.

Many people underestimate the speed of these lumbering behemoths. There were many railroad employees in my area and we heard early and often: don't cross the tracks unless you absolutely have no other way to get to the other side, and never cross if you can hear a train, never mind see it.