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Homeless or not, most people know how to get out of the way of an oncoming train. Unless they are mentally ill or on drugs it's hard to understand how this could accidentally happen to any adult....unless it was on purpose
If it was an express train, it might be going 50ish. If you are not really paying attention while walking on the tracks, you might not see the train in time. Train can't really weave or stop.
Homeless or not, most people know how to get out of the way of an oncoming train. Unless they are mentally ill or on drugs it's hard to understand how this could accidentally happen to any adult....unless it was on purpose
Without seeing data, I'd wager that most train strikes in areas like this are either intentional or involving someone under the influence of something. But accidents do happen. The reports here indicate that the guy was actively trying to get her off the tracks when the train struck. It could be she was suicidal (though it would be brutal to put your partner through that). It could be she was on drugs and passed out on the tracks. But it could also be that she had a medical episode in an extremely unfortunate spot. It could be that she was recreationally riding her bike on one of the nearby paths, tried to cross the tracks, and got injured somehow. We probably won't know. No matter what, there's really no good reason to be on railroad tracks. Especially active commuter rail tracks.
On a related note, has anyone ever watched the Amtrak Acela or the Northeast Regional go through Mansfield Station? They pass by at 125-150mph. It's actually wild to experience, and it's crazy that it's legal for that to happen without any sort of barrier (there is a digital display and audible alert announcing the train is approaching). If someone were to step in front of one of those trains, it would be instantaneous demise.
On a related note, has anyone ever watched the Amtrak Acela or the Northeast Regional go through Mansfield Station? They pass by at 125-150mph. It's actually wild to experience, and it's crazy that it's legal for that to happen without any sort of barrier (there is a digital display and audible alert announcing the train is approaching). If someone were to step in front of one of those trains, it would be instantaneous demise.
For sure, and this definitely has happened before. I remember the story linked below because it happened right as I had moved to the Boston area and knew someone that worked for the Transit Police at the time. The incident was EXTREMELY traumatic for those who witnessed it and those that responded (police, fire, etc). I also believe this has happened again more recently (2021 it seems).
Honest question, how does a pedestrian get stuck on railroad tracks? I can visualize someone getting trapped in a subway tunnel with a train approaching but not on tracks that are out in the open in the suburbs.
Maybe a shoe got stuck in the rails? I honestly don't know...strange, sad story
I've been on abandoned railroad tracks in my youth a good number of times and I don't know how a shoe can get stuck in the rails. The rails are pretty fair apart compared to the size of a human foot.
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