Teen wearing headphones struck, killed by freight train in Fort Worth

[TexasTowelie]

A teen was killed Thursday morning after being struck by a train in south Fort Worth.

MedStar responded to the 2100 block of York Drive shortly after 7:15 a.m., a spokesman said. The teen was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The engineer blew a horn and put the emergency brake on when he saw the teen on the tracks,” Sgt. Raymond Bush told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “The teen did not hear the train.”

Joe Faust, spokesman for BNSF Railway said the victim is a 14-year-old Hispanic male who has not been identified.

He said the incident did not happen at a crossing and that the boy had his back turned to the westbound train and headphones in his ears. It is unclear at what speed the train was traveling.

More at http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2014/05/teen-killed-at-scene-after-being-struck-by-train-in-fort-worth.html/ .

[Swede Atlanta]

1. This is why I consider people that are riding bicycles, walking, jogging, blading, etc.

where they have to share space with motorized vehicles stupid. You need to be able to hear those around you. Even if you aren't around motorized vehicles I have even seen some near misses on bike paths because some cyclists that want to pass have hollered ahead, "on your left" and the person with the headphones on didn't hear and moved into the left lane.

As well it should be illegal to wear any headphones while operating a car. I see them all the time in Atlanta. I am sure they have the volume turned all the way up. There is no way they would hear a someone signaling to them with their horn let alone an ambulance or firetruck or police car.

[mbperrin]

3. Well said.

We've had several students injured in our parking lot while wearing these things and blocking out reality around them.

[Louisiana1976]

2. Teens should be told not to wear headphones while out in public--

but who's gonna listen?

[customerserviceguy]

4. All kinds of problems with this story

First, was it the headphones that killed the kid, or was it his walking down railroad tracks, which are meant for trains? Second, what difference does it make as to what speed the train was travelling?

When you approach railroad tracks, especially any segment that is not marked with signals, you always need to assume that a train could pop up at any minute, and you need to cross tracks quickly only after making absolutely sure there is no train approaching. Loitering on railroad tracks has long been an effective way to die.