Boy, 14, struck and killed by train in Hoffman Estates

[Mikes father]

Eventmoment wrote:

To Mike's father..
You are not the only one in the world who has suffered and is suffering.'Hello' and 'WMSP' have said some very true and comforting things. My only point is that -'Are you going to make a decision to get on with your life?' If you never accept the loss of your son, you are not adjusting to reality. Time to mourn is one thing. Rejecting the reality of death is another. What has happened may never in this life be understood. God does not always reveal His Plan. Ask yourself, what can I control and what can't I control. Pray for the wisdom to know the difference. Peace to you and your family.

Where did I say that dont accept my son death . He will never cone to this home ever again . My understanding of this sitution is very clear,but thank you very much for pointing out reality to me.I know what is in my control,what is not in my control,and the intelligence to understand the difference!Thair is alot nasty things that happen in this world I know realy I do.I know alot of people are suffering!Icant agree more. But what does all that have to do with all the inaccuracys being spread obout mike!I thank you for your though of peace

[Karen]

Reading this blog, eventmoment said the wisdom to know the difference, not the intelligence to understand, which is a totally different thing. As you absolutely refuse to acknowledge the possibility that your son took his own life, please explain to this forum why you say that and what you know that we all don't know and are forced to speculate about. The vast majority of people on this forum are on your side and are only trying to make sense of something they don't have all the facts about. If you possess those facts, then why wouldn't you care to share them.
The truth is a double edge sword!

[Wonder Mom Super Powers]

I am blown away by what I am reading here. How can anyone tell someone to accept the fact that their child is dead and move on? Have you ever lost a child? Do you even have children? Who's to say how long it will take to begin healing - there is no set rule. And why is it anyone's business if this father agrees that his son killed himself or spends the rest of his life believing it was an accident?

I have seen a mother collapse at the side of her son's gravesite while his casket was being lowered, begging to God to bring her son back, offering up her life instead. I suppose after two months she should have just accepted her loss and moved on. Maybe I'll tell her that next time we speak of her son and she breaks down sobbing from the ache in her heart. Yeah, that should make her feel super good, and me, too. After all, it has been almost two whole years...6453


Mike's father: I am truly saddened by the loss of your son. I didn't have to know him to know that he was special to his family. Stay strong and always know that he is always alive in your memories and your hearts. God Bless.

[KristensLaw]

too many discrepencies and opinions here. but this is fact. CN canadien National has been lobbying for purchase (300 million dollars) of these tracks since 2007. there are railroad safety activist groups among others(obama) who oppose this purchase. accidental or wrongful deaths on these rails not in best interest of cn at this time. ultimately billions of dollars at stake.read these links and ask the powerful cn WHERE IS THE VIDEO ?
http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/labels/Elgin...
http://www.cn.ca/about/media/news_releases/20...

[Mike]

Pope Phred wrote:

<quoted text>
Pardon my incredulity, but I seriously doubt that anyone from the railroad would really post this. Not only is it insensitive to the family and friends of the victim, but such an act would be detrimental to the company. Perhaps that is why you posted anonymously.
Show some compassion, please.

And tells us why exactly you hide behind the pseudonym "Pope Phred"?

[Mike]

KristensLaw wrote:

too many discrepencies and opinions here. but this is fact. CN canadien National has been lobbying for purchase (300 million dollars) of these tracks since 2007. there are railroad safety activist groups among others(obama) who oppose this purchase. accidental or wrongful deaths on these rails not in best interest of cn at this time. ultimately billions of dollars at stake.read these links and ask the powerful cn WHERE IS THE VIDEO ?
http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/labels/Elgin...
http://www.cn.ca/about/media/news_releases/20...

There have been so many accidents and deaths on the tracks that Union Pacific recently announced they will be installing forward-facing cameras on all of their locomotives. Unfortunately, not all railroads have these cameras, and not all locomotives have them installed. I am curious why you would want to see a video of this... if it shows exactly what the engineer stated, would it help his grieving family when it proved that it was truly a suicide? And even if it shows him just trespassing on the tracks facing the opposite way, unaware that a train was about to end his life, how would that help anything? Or would you just get some kind of ghoulish pleasure out of watching the last moments of a 14-year-old's life?

[Wonder Mom Super Powers]

Mike wrote:

<quoted text>There have been so many accidents and deaths on the tracks that Union Pacific recently announced they will be installing forward-facing cameras on all of their locomotives. Unfortunately, not all railroads have these cameras, and not all locomotives have them installed. I am curious why you would want to see a video of this... if it shows exactly what the engineer stated, would it help his grieving family when it proved that it was truly a suicide? And even if it shows him just trespassing on the tracks facing the opposite way, unaware that a train was about to end his life, how would that help anything? Or would you just get some kind of ghoulish pleasure out of watching the last moments of a 14-year-old's life?

Mike - Kristens Law is a wonderful website dedicated to a young lady who lost her life in a train accident. The family is a tremendous source of support and understanding for any family suffering from the loss of a loved one in a such a way. I would assume that whoever posted using this name is from the website.

I encourage everyone to visit the site. They are working hard to promote safety around trains.

www.kristenslaw.org

[Pope Phred]

Mike wrote:

<quoted text>And tells us why exactly you hide behind the pseudonym "Pope Phred"?

My name is Fred, with a little phonetic flair. I don't really know that your name is Mike, do I?

And now back to the topic at hand...

[Pope Phred]

I recently made the post doubting the identity of the poster claiming to be one of the trainmen of the engine involved. The reason for my doubt is a reasonable one.

It is not likely that anyone from the railroad with actual knowledge of the event would post because of their liability as a representative of the railroad.

One could argue that the person is posting as a form of contrition or confession. This is also doubtful, as I didn't see an effort to make amends, which would provide closure.

Regardless of the posters intent, I can guess that his detailing of the events did nothing to provide solace to the family if they read this forum, and was done with lack of consideration of their feelings.

With that, I end my posting to this thread, as further posts would probably be off-topic and do nothing to provide closure to this unfortunate event.

My condolences.

[Mikes father]

Karen wrote:

Reading this blog, eventmoment said the wisdom to know the difference, not the intelligence to understand, which is a totally different thing. As you absolutely refuse to acknowledge the possibility that your son took his own life, please explain to this forum why you say that and what you know that we all don't know and are forced to speculate about. The vast majority of people on this forum are on your side and are only trying to make sense of something they don't have all the facts about. If you possess those facts, then why wouldn't you care to share them.
The truth is a double edge sword!

Lets see wisdom 1 the quality of being wise;good judgment. 2 learning;knowldge. Inteligence 1 .the ability to learn or understand.....the ability to cope with a new situation.The terms are prity darn close.I am sorry that my choice of terms dont live up to your standards.Now for the reasons why I cant give up more info, I think the reasons are obvious! Oh by the way,do you know anything other than what you read on this site. Most people that has negitive thoughts about this boy dont know him! My son loved life, love everyone.To speculate that this was anything other than an accident is wrong!I hope this answers your questions.

[Karen]

Mikes father wrote:

<quoted text>Lets see wisdom 1 the quality of being wise;good judgment. 2 learning;knowldge. Inteligence 1 .the ability to learn or understand.....the ability to cope with a new situation.The terms are prity darn close.I am sorry that my choice of terms dont live up to your standards.Now for the reasons why I cant give up more info, I think the reasons are obvious! Oh by the way,do you know anything other than what you read on this site. Most people that has negitive thoughts about this boy dont know him! My son loved life, love everyone.To speculate that this was anything other than an accident is wrong!I hope this answers your questions.

"To speculate that this was anything other than an accident is wrong!" Thank you for the final, definitive, absolute truth to this never ending, speculative blog. Now, we can all go somewhere else to express our opinions. With the truth being a double edge sword, Mike's father just impaled himself on the dull side of the blade. Amen

[Eventmoment]

Wonder Mom Super Powers wrote:

I am blown away by what I am reading here. How can anyone tell someone to accept the fact that their child is dead and move on? Have you ever lost a child? Do you even have children? Who's to say how long it will take to begin healing - there is no set rule. And why is it anyone's business if this father agrees that his son killed himself or spends the rest of his life believing it was an accident?
I have seen a mother collapse at the side of her son's gravesite while his casket was being lowered, begging to God to bring her son back, offering up her life instead. I suppose after two months she should have just accepted her loss and moved on. Maybe I'll tell her that next time we speak of her son and she breaks down sobbing from the ache in her heart. Yeah, that should make her feel super good, and me, too. After all, it has been almost two whole years...6453
Mike's father: I am truly saddened by the loss of your son. I didn't have to know him to know that he was special to his family. Stay strong and always know that he is always alive in your memories and your hearts. God Bless.

Yes, as a matter of fact I have lost a child. I grieve every day, but my life goes on because I have faith. What I totally don't understand is why is there such a divided opinion about the cause of this accident in the first place. Why, is cause in this case indeterminate, and appearently not important to so many people who write here?

[Mike]

Wonder Mom Super Powers wrote:

<quoted text>
Mike - Kristens Law is a wonderful website dedicated to a young lady who lost her life in a train accident. The family is a tremendous source of support and understanding for any family suffering from the loss of a loved one in a such a way. I would assume that whoever posted using this name is from the website.
I encourage everyone to visit the site. They are working hard to promote safety around trains.
www.kristenslaw.org

Try also the website for Operation Lifesaver www.oli.org where you can link to information regarding local Operation Lifesaver programs and presentations. It seems like Barrington H.S. is overdue for a visit.

[lady]

I don't think the poster claiming to be Mikes father is really his father....not by the way the postings read....very odd indeed...who doesthis sort of thing???

[Do Shane]

lady wrote:

I don't think the poster claiming to be Mikes father is really his father....not by the way the postings read....very odd indeed...who doesthis sort of thing???

You read my mind. Especially when he referred to his son as "this boy". What father does that?? Ever???

[lady]

Do Shane wrote:

<quoted text>
You read my mind. Especially when he referred to his son as "this boy". What father does that?? Ever???

It is just weird someone would do that.

[Girl]

Would all you people writing these negative comments stop. Just leave the family alone!!!!!

[Goodbye]

Girl wrote:

Would all you people writing these negative comments stop. Just leave the family alone!!!!!

Well, doesn't your post come out of the blue! Last negative comment was about a week and a half ago. Get with it, Girly.
__________

We're obviously dealing with a bunch of lunatics. Dead subject anyway...

I'm outta here.

[Screwy Louie]

Its a terrible thing what these GPS devices do...

[Close Friend]

Mikey wasn't capable of suicide. My house backs up to the tracks and that day I heard no train horn. The houses in my neighborhood are more like 25 feet away from eachother and there are about 20 that back up to the tracks and about 20 more across the street that would have been able to hear the train horn.

And for all those who wonder why he would have been walking on the tracks when there is clearly nothing back there. Its because to every teen in our neighborhoods its a shortcut to get to the new target that they built I've seen Mikey on it before. Theres usually a kids walking it every day, but not anymore no one will ever go back there again, at least if they cared. It was a tragic accident that Mikey was hit. The shortcut is just under the bridge or theres another shortcut just past the bridge in case the others muddy. Mikey could have gone to either, but one things for sure he didn't commit suicide as I said before he wasn't capable of suicide.

Rest in peace Mikey I miss you more than ever, I still feel it full force and think about you at least every hour. Hope your having fun up there can't wait to see you, I love you.