Teenager struck and killed by Amtrak train

Police say a 14-year-old Chicago boy was struck and killed by an Amtrak train in suburban Lansing.

[Little LuLu]

Poor kid! My father was a trainman and put the fear of trains into me at a very young age. I in turn did the same thing to my sons when we lived so close to the tracks we could see the whites of the passengers' eye. Parents teach your children!

[CCG]

Amtrak (or Train) didn't hit the teen. The title should be "Teen crosses tracks and hit by train". If teens are not responsible, why would that be Amtrak's fault. I feel sorry for the victim's family.

[midwest rail]

One does not have to stand directly between the rails to be in harm's way - tho it sounds from the reports i've heard as tho he and some friends were attempting to beat the train.
NEVER a good idea. You would simply not believe the incredibly stupid things i've seen people do at RR crossings.

[Sympathy from Lansing]

When I first moved to the area, I also warned my children about those tracks. Parents please take the time to not only talk to your children but if you see other children playing or trying to beat the train please take the time to talk to them as well. It takes a village to raise our youth. We can all try to figure out why this happened but it does not take away the fact that a young teen lost his life. My prayers go out to the family and friends of Christopher. May God comfort you during this time.

[Yelena]

Very sad. Everyone does stupid things, especially teenagers...we've all been there!
I feel for his family.

[Mike]

Trains v. Humans, the trains always win. First of all, it is ILLEGAL for anyone other than railroad employees and ticketed passengers on passenger trains to be on any rail, anywhere. Secondly, from every account I read, this boy and others were seen lying on the tracks prior to the train's arrival. never a good idea. Thirdly, Amtrak trains move at 80 miles per hour, they are usually no more than 6 or 7 cars long, so you may not necessarily hear them coming from 5 miles away. However, they do blow their whistles well before every grade crossing. This sounds to me like some kids playing a little chicken and one of them losing. I do feel sorry for anyones family who loses a loved one, but think of the engineer and crew on the train who see this and have ZERO chance of stopping a 300 ton locomotive and anywhere from 4 to 9 cars full of passengers. This all plays out right in front of them and they have to live with that for the rest of their lives. Also remember, 999,999,999 out of 1,000,000 incidents involving train v. human it's the human mistake that leads to the injury or fatality. We have to be aware of this, and teach our children the same.

[Maribeth]

I was on this train and it appeared that the kids were playing chicken and one of them lost. The conductors were terribly upset, although they said it happens more than you might think. The engineer had no chance to stop. What a terrible phone call for those parents - a 14 year old kid. It's such a waste. And the other boys who made it across have to live with this the rest of their lives, too. There's just nothing good to be said when something like this happens.

[Ken in Aurora]

Mike wrote:

However, they do blow their whistles well before every grade crossing.

Except in those communities brainless enough to enact so-called "quiet zones"...

[Salsa Shark]

Do they have cameras in the cabs?

[tyronneh]

Mike wrote:

Trains v. Humans, the trains always win. First of all, it is ILLEGAL for anyone other than railroad employees and ticketed passengers on passenger trains to be on any rail, anywhere. Secondly, from every account I read, this boy and others were seen lying on the tracks prior to the train's arrival. never a good idea. Thirdly, Amtrak trains move at 80 miles per hour, they are usually no more than 6 or 7 cars long, so you may not necessarily hear them coming from 5 miles away. However, they do blow their whistles well before every grade crossing. This sounds to me like some kids playing a little chicken and one of them losing. I do feel sorry for anyones family who loses a loved one, but think of the engineer and crew on the train who see this and have ZERO chance of stopping a 300 ton locomotive and anywhere from 4 to 9 cars full of passengers. This all plays out right in front of them and they have to live with that for the rest of their lives. Also remember, 999,999,999 out of 1,000,000 incidents involving train v. human it's the human mistake that leads to the injury or fatality. We have to be aware of this, and teach our children the same.

How in God's name can you cross a track if you be on it ANYWHERE, including crossings?

[tyronneh]

Ken in Aurora wrote:

<quoted text>
Except in those communities brainless enough to enact so-called "quiet zones"...

Hey ****nuts, guess you don't live near a set of tracks.

[blueyz]

I see kids and adults cross the Metra tracks all the time in Mount Prospect, the police don't do anything. By the time you'd call them anyway, it is too late, the are up and over the other side. They are too lazy to walk to either end of the street to cross at a light. More than a few have been hit. What can you do, make a "Citizen's arrest" and call them on it? The Metra riders cross around them too. They don't even pay attention to the flashing lights It doesn't matter. But if they really want to fine them $500 per person, they could make a whole bunch of money and save alot of lives. Sad about the teen and feel for his family. This one could have been prevented.

[sarah]

teens do not make good decisions. they are hard to raise. foolish. rip and prayers to the family.

[walter]

The Metra riders cross from the train because there has never been a ruling if this is wrong or not. I have personally seen a mayor, a State Representative and several Village Trustees cross over the tracks after exiting the train. The last one was two weeks ago.

[Ken in Aurora]

tyronneh wrote:

<quoted text>Hey *****nuts, guess you don't live near a set of tracks.

Hey fool, guess again.

[walter]

It appears you should cross from outside the gates over the tracks but if you are exiting a stopped train you are able to cross from the platform to the street. I've been riding that train for 34 years and people have always done this at Mt Prospect. I've also seen a MP Police car at the gate and they don't question the practice

[Wow]

999 million out of 1 million?

Mike wrote:

Trains v. Humans, the trains always win. First of all, it is ILLEGAL for anyone other than railroad employees and ticketed passengers on passenger trains to be on any rail, anywhere. Secondly, from every account I read, this boy and others were seen lying on the tracks prior to the train's arrival. never a good idea. Thirdly, Amtrak trains move at 80 miles per hour, they are usually no more than 6 or 7 cars long, so you may not necessarily hear them coming from 5 miles away. However, they do blow their whistles well before every grade crossing. This sounds to me like some kids playing a little chicken and one of them losing. I do feel sorry for anyones family who loses a loved one, but think of the engineer and crew on the train who see this and have ZERO chance of stopping a 300 ton locomotive and anywhere from 4 to 9 cars full of passengers. This all plays out right in front of them and they have to live with that for the rest of their lives. Also remember, 999,999,999 out of 1,000,000 incidents involving train v. human it's the human mistake that leads to the injury or fatality. We have to be aware of this, and teach our children the same.

[ADRIAN JOHNSON]

that my cousin that got hi i dont know wha to do rite now

[Angie]

walter wrote:

The Metra riders cross from the train because there has never been a ruling if this is wrong or not. I have personally seen a mayor, a State Representative and several Village Trustees cross over the tracks after exiting the train. The last one was two weeks ago.

What do you mean "never been a ruling". There are FEDERAL rules about crossings and tracks.

[Anon]

I was on the train. It was terribly sad for all involved. It was obvious that the crew was distraught as well.

Even if he was doing somehting stupid, it does not make the loss of human life any less tragic or heartbreaking--particularly for his family and the engineers. Nothing they could have done. They definitely did everything within thier power to stop but it was clearly impossible.

The funny thing is that I didn't even really know where i was or what was going on, becuase Amtrak was being so cryptic and clinical in their announcements until about 20mins into it. All they said was that we had a "trespasser issue"

please don't waste your time arguing about superfluous issue in posts. it gets nothing accomplished and isn't focusing on the article even; it isn't about you and where you live--a 14 year old kid lost his life needlessly.

tragic.