(The following story by Millie Martinez was posted on the KOLD News 13 website on May 10. Jon Hurst is a member of BLET Division 28.)
TUCSON, Ariz. — You can’t beat the train—don’t even try it.
In March, an elderly man died at the train tracks at Prince Road and I-10 when he tried to cross the tracks. Way too often impatient drivers disregard the warning signs.
To increase railroad safety, police officers are citing motorists who press their luck.
Union Pacific Locomotive Engineer Jon Hurst said, “Don’t make assumptions around railroad crossings.” He knows all too well the damage a steel hundred ton train can create.
Hurst said, “I’ve been involved in three fatalities and two of them were not in vehicles, two were on foot.”
KOLD News 13 cameras caught many people walking on the tracks. One woman even tried to ride her bike on the railroad.
“As the population grows we have more pedestrian accidents and trespassing on the railroad tracks. I don’t think people realize its private property,” said David Farler with Operations Lifesaver.