Categories: News

UPDATED:Teen Hit By Train Wearing Headphones

10 years ago
By: Jon Wilcox
The northbound Union Pacific train struck the teenager despite the fact its horn sounded, said Jeff DeGraff, spokesman for Union Pacific Railroad. DeGraff said the boy may not have heard the train’s horn because he was wearing headphones at the time. The status of the victim is unknown.
 
DeGraff believes the boy’s injuries were accidental.
 
“(According to) my guys on the ground, he was attempting to cross or was walking alongside the tracks,” DeGraff said.
 
The teenager was transported by an Air Flite helicopter to University Hospital in San Antonio to be treated for “severe injuries,” DeGraff said.
 
Union Pacific officials are in the process of determining the speed of the train at the time of the accident, DeGraff said.
 
Crossing railway lines at unauthorized places is dangerous, said Louis Tudyk, Union Pacific Railroad police officer.
 
Union Pacific may pursue legal action against the victim for trespassing, DeGraff said.
 
“You can be ticketed, you can be cited (or) you can be arrested for being on railroad private property,” Tudyk said. “We don’t want people on our property. That’s like me walking through your front yard.”
 
DeGraff said Union Pacific officials are working with the community to implement safe practices and reduce the number of accidents.
 
“Even one incident is more than we would like,” DeGraff said. “Fortunately for us, if you look at the last 10 years, the number of incidents (has) steadily declined. It shows our educational efforts are paying off.” 

Jon Wilcox is a senior news reporter for the University Star where this story originally published, and is reprinted here through a news partnership between the University Star and Corridor News.

 

Man On Tracks Hit By Train In San Marcos
 
Update 5:45 p.m.: Hopkins and Guadalupe Streets are now open; the man who was hit by the train earlier this afternoon was transported by helicopter to University Hospital in San Antonio. Union Pacific Railroad Police have taken over the investigation because it happened on the railroad’s property.
 
A man on the railroad tracks near the Texas Army National Guard Armory in San Marcos was seriously injured Wednesday when he was hit by a train shortly after 4 p.m.
 
The collision stopped the train, which is blocking Hopkins and Guadalupe Streets, shutting down traffic in both directions. Motorists are advised to take an alternate route, such as Aquarena Springs to bypass the area.
 
San Marcos Police are investigating the reason the man was on the tracks.
 
Union Pacific estimates the closure will last about an hour.
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10 years ago

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