(The following story by KGW Staff appeared on the KGW website on October 1, 2010.)
VANCOUVER, Wash. — A 17-year-old Vancouver girl was struck and killed by a train Thursday evening.
The victim has been identified as Mindy Doster, a junior at Mountain View High School. Hers was the second death involving a teen from Mountain View High School in just the past week.
In the latest accident, officer Ilia Botvinnik said a Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train was traveling westbound when it struck Doster about 5 p.m., Thursday.
The engineer reportedly saw her on the tracks but was unable to stop the train in time.
“The crew saw the woman along the tracks on the south side and started emergency procedures, blowing its horn and trying to slow down,” said Gus Melonas, a spokesman for BNSF. “But it was too late.”
Investigators have not said why they believe Doster was on the tracks, but she had been listening to an iPod and it’s possible she didn’t hear the train coming.
Doster was the 15th person to be struck killed by a BNSF train in the state this year, according to Melonas.
“It’s a tragic event that underscores the importance of being aware that a train could move at any moment,” he said.
Students & staff struggling with deaths
A team of counselors has been at the school since Wednesday, talking with students and staff and trying to help them deal with this rough week. A “safe room” was also set up as a place for students to go if they feel overwhelmed and upset.
In addition, there will be a moment of silence at Friday night’s football game, to honor the two students who died this week.
The train was headed to Everett, Wash., from Roosevelt, Wash. It had two locomotives, 70 cars and was carrying empty containers, at a speed of about 55 mph, Melonas said.
Earlier this week,a 15-year-old boy who was also a student at Mountain View High School died in a truck rollover. The driver of the truck was also 15 and so was the other passenger. One boy died in the crash and the two others were injured.