Posted on 06/15/2007 6:41:38 AM PDT by the_devils_advocate_666
Four teenagers were killed early Thursday morning when the stolen SUV they were in and a train collided.
It happened in Baytown at Archer Road and Fleming around 3:30 a.m.
According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, six teenagers were in the stolen Jeep when the driver apparently did not see a Union Pacific train that had apparently been stalled on the tracks for some time. The SUV slammed into the tanker car at a high rate of speed and went under it into a ditch.
Four people in the backseat, three girls and one boy ages 12 to 15, died at the scene.
Two teenage boys, ages 17 and 15, were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital by Life Flight. They were the driver and the front-seat passenger.
Union Pacific said the SUV may have hit the train, gone underneath it and slid into a ditch.
There are no streetlights or lights that indicate that there is a train crossing.
Family and friends of the victims gathered at the scene, including the father of one of the victims.
"It's unbelievable what has happened," Doug Moyers said. "I can see my daughter's big toe sticking out from underneath the white blanket; that's all I can see of her is her big toe."
This happened about 40 miles from my home. Local news is already blaming the State and railroad due to lack of signs lights and arms.
If there wasn’t even a sign, if there was nothing, that is pretty shocking.
I’m glad that you got to where you are today! And it sounds like you have good friends too.
Do you think these kids would like to have a “do over”?
Trains are constantly stopped on tracks that intersect with roads that late (At distribution centers). I’ve had to detour many times because of it when I was younger.
“There are no streetlights or lights that indicate that there is a train crossing.”
...the Union Pacific is a $32 BILLION company....very, very, deep pockets...they got a whole battalion of lawyers....this sad story won’t shake them up a bit....I used to have the UP as a customer and liked them....
Some of the comments on this thread are just appalling.
I think I had VERY good parents, but as a teenager I still did some stupid and reckless things. I never stole a vehicle (or anything else) and never snuck out of the house, but I certainly drove like a maniac sometimes and went running around late at night, especially when I spent the night with a friend whose parents were more permissive. Maybe there’s some bad parenting here, but exactly how would any of you know for certain?
Four children are dead and two are in bad shape. Most of you haven’t the slightest idea what their parents are going through right now. If you did, maybe you’d be a little less judgmental. Yes, the kids were being stupid and breaking the law. But it’s obvious that some people on this thread think they got what they deserved. Last time I looked, no state executes people for grand larceny.
Kids like that? Sure, they'd like a do-over. They'd know to drive the stolen vehicle in another direction.
Prayers to all involved. I know that some are not so sympathetic, but even irresponsible people don’t deserve death.
Back when they hanged horse thieves, they had fewer horse thieves.
Sorry about the damage to train and the SUV.
Headlights were off?
What bothers me more is the taxpayer dollars wasted on the Life Flight ride and other medical expenses. Leave the riff-raff in the wreckage!
“Back when they hanged horse thieves, they had fewer horse thieves.”
Oh really? You have the numbers for comparison?
Fortunately most of us are more civilized and rational now. Some on this thread obviously are not.
So the kids are not responsibie for their own miserable fate, nor are the parents responsible for their children?
“Sorry about the damage to train and the SUV.”
Somebody already beat you to that lame, brainless comment.
Well, nature and fate seem to have been on my side this morning.
Maybe I’m wrong but don’t rail cars have reflective tape along the sides???
I do think this is a sad story for all involved. What I was taught though was that you can make bad decisions and get into trouble, the reason why one gets into trouble is because someone could get hurt. This is an example of that.
Don’t Break Curfew.
Don’t make a bad example for those that are younger than you that could look up to you.
Don’t drive without a valid license. Without the training. Without the Parental supervision needed to teach how to handle hazards on the road.
Don’t steal other people’s cars and drive them around without permission.
Wear your seatbelt. Make sure others in the car are wearing them too.
Trains always win, Trains have right of way. Always expect a train at every intersection.
Then again I graduated CGHS where 5 years before I graduated a train struck a school bus and killed 5 students.
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