Posted on 08/20/2007 9:19:31 PM PDT by SmithL
ELMWOOD PLACE, OhioA train struck and injured a pedestrian who was sending a text message on his cell phone while crossing railroad tracks, a collision that hurled him about 50 feet, authorities and witnesses said Monday.
Zachariah Smith, 18, waited for a southbound train to pass Monday morning. He then walked around a gate and onto the tracks, apparently unaware that another train was coming from the other direction, said witness Mike Billups.
"The horn was blowing like mad and the kid was text messaging," said Mayor Richard Ellison, who went to the scene and talked to several witnesses after hearing of the accident. "The kid apparently was just daydreaming."
Smith was knocked out by the collision, Billups said.
After regaining consciousness, Smith was taken by paramedics to nearby University Hospital in Cincinnati with undisclosed injuries. He was listed in serious condition Monday night.
It was not clear how fast the train was moving.
Gates and lights at the crossing were in working order, said Elmwood Place police Col. William Peskin.
(Excerpt) Read more at contracostatimes.com ...
dude...I don't think those are deer tracks.
I am glad the guy survived, but...this ranks up there with the guy eaten by bears in the zoo yesterday.
Brother. Read an article today about kids texting while riding their bicycles, and what kind of future drivers they’ll be. Some things require strict attention.
The other day on the freeway there was a little car which was going very slowly in one of the center, fast lanes and causing traffic to move around it.
When I could finally pass him I saw that the driver - a relatively young man - was texting.
Last message:
MUBRRXING
I wonder if he incurred roaming charges?
"Fat, texting, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."
LOL DUde, you'll never guess where I'm sitting
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In the good old days, theyd kill ya. Stupid feminized trains.
L0LZ
“A train struck and injured a pedestrian who was sending a text message on his cell phone while crossing railroad tracks, a collision that hurled him about 50 feet”
He was only INJURED? Geesh!
Had to be moving slowly, and maybe an oblique hit. But the tossing 50 ft gets me - he survived?
I was rode a commuter train some 10 years ago with a man who sort of witnessed 1 of our co-commuters “disappear” 1 morning in front of him - she walked out on the track right in front of a freighter. She was hit straight on and tossed some 250 feet, onto the nearby race course property. He found her and she was all in pieces; definitely nothing left of life there. It was extremely sad for alot of us commuters.
A Darwin contender for sure.
"I just got to send the message now....they'll stop....I got plenty of.....$*%&%^&%%*&!@!
Moron. I fear for our nation.
Dumba$$ should have left his phone on the other side of the barrier to Platform 9 3/4.
He just wanted to see if the Muggle fellytone would work.
Stupid wart.
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