Amtrak Trains In Two Incidents, Both Avoidable.
Two new grade crossing accidents to report today … both unfortunate and both all-too-typical.
In Pinole, California (near Martinez in the Bay Area), a man and his dog were killed when hit by an Amtrak train. This accident is still being investigated, but there is speculation that the man could have been trying to save the dog, perhaps snatching it out of the path of one train, only to be hit by a second train coming the other direction. This is a classic occurrence: one train passes and a car or a pedestrian crosses the track not realizing there’s a second train coming.
Meanwhile, in North Carolina, a low-boy carring some heavy equipment bottomed out at a grade crossing and became stuck on the track. It was stuck by Amtrak’s Piedmont en route to Charlotte. Diesel fuel spilled on impact and the engine caught fire. A dozen passengers and one crew member were hurt although reports say none seriously.
As is the case in virtually 100% of these occurrences, both were entirely avoidable and neither of these incidents would have occurred had the victim or the truck driver used caution and common sense.
By the way, these photographs, by the way, were taken by a young woman who is taking a photography course at her local high school.
I understand your point and, in fact, have said on several occasions that all of these incidents (better?) are avoidable.
However my dictionary defines accident as “an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in injury, damage or loss.”
Why do you repeatedly call these crashes “accidents”?
They are not accidents.