UP844 Involved in Fatal Accident

[Xmtrman]

https://kdvr.com/2018/07/21/pedestrian-struck-by-train-near-henderson/

My thoughts are with all involved in this tragedy.

[Doug G.]

Pedestrians ought not be on railroad tracks.

Doug

[BCR751]

Although the particulars are not yet known, it sounds like someone trying to get "that perfect shot" may have gotten too close and was hit.  It never ceases to amaze me what lengths some individuals will go to get a photograph.  If this was the case here, I'm calling it natural selection.

Doug

[C855B]

That never even dawned on me until you said it. But you're right, viewing through the lens, especially a zoom you're trying to frame "just right", is going to distort perceptions of distance.

If our supposition is true then we need to gird our loins for all sorts of aggressive protection actions on the part of UP that will make 'fanning the steam operations that much more of a "stand behind the ropes, please" affair. The argument can be made by the victim's family that running the too-infrequent steam operations amounts to "an attractive nuisance*" and invites such behavior.

I recall Bob Krieger and others on the previous steam crews talking about the railfan craziness even back then and all the near-misses. So what's it going to be like when the 4014 is done and out on the road? :shudder:

* - I stand corrected. Attractive nuisance doctrine generally applies to children and their inability to assess and appreciate the hazards of a situation. Doesn't mean the aggrieved family isn't going to sue. 

[packers#1]

One of my friends on facebook was using his drone from 4 streets down and captured the entire accident; I can confirm it was sadly a photographer standing too close to the track and was struck by the locomotive. Definitely a sad situation all around and a reminder to be careful around the tracks

[GhengisKong]

One of my friends on facebook was using his drone from 4 streets down and captured the entire accident; I can confirm it was sadly a photographer standing too close to the track and was struck by the locomotive. Definitely a sad situation all around and a reminder to be careful around the tracks

Was she at the crossing or on the ROW?

[packers#1]

From his picture of the accident it looks like she was standing on the edge of the ties or just to the side of them; it’s a still shot from a drone cam and rather far away so it’s a touch blurry. It looks like she probably got struck by the stairs on the side of locomotive (he didn’t post the picture of the actual strike, just the right before and right after shot).

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This is why we can't have nice things.

[jpwisc]

We have a saying around our office: “If you’re going to be dumb, you better be tough.”

[jagged ben]

Man, what a shame, in every way.

[BCR751]

I shudder to think how much UP's insurance premiums are going to be after this.  Maybe the last run for 844.  The person I feel the most sorry for is 844's engineer.

Doug

[Jbub]

So does Union Pacific's  insurance premiums go up every time a pedestrian or car passenger or driver is killed in an accident?  As tragic as this is, I don't see much in the way of change unless Ed was at the controls when this happened. That can change the way a person sees things.

[Dave V]

The drone footage is on YouTube...for now, anyway.  I won't link to it here.  You can clearly see what the problem is, and the impact is clearly fatal.  It makes me wonder if people don't realize that the train itself overhangs the gauge by a considerable width.

[draskouasshat]

I shudder to think how much UP's insurance premiums are going to be after this.  Maybe the last run for 844.  The person I feel the most sorry for is 844's engineer.

Doug

railroads are self insured.

unfortunately, the railroad will pay her family for her stupidity.

drasko

[Seligman Sub]

The drone footage is on YouTube...for now, anyway.  I won't link to it here.  You can clearly see what the problem is, and the impact is clearly fatal.  It makes me wonder if people don't realize that the train itself overhangs the gauge by a considerable width.

Saw it too and was thinking the same thing. Clearly not a regular "foamer" as most are smart enough to at least stay off the ties where it appeared to me she was standing.  Sad day for sure.