Posted on 05/25/2026 2:06:47 PM PDT by Libloather
A popular graffiti artist was fatally struck by a Brightline train in Florida, local officials say.
On May 13, Eric Alan Hirt, 47, was struck and killed at 12:26 a.m. local time while walking on the tracks in Biscayne Park, Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office (MDSO) Detective Joseph Peguero said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. Eric was hit by an oncoming Brightline train, the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office confirmed, according to The Miami Herald.
The Brightline train is one of two high-speed trains in the U.S., traveling as fast as 125 miles per hour. The train began test runs in 2017. Since then, there have been over 200 fatalities associated with Brightline trains that took place near or on the tracks, with Hirt's marking the 206th death, according to a joint investigation conducted by WLRN and The Miami Herald. Brightline has not been found responsible or held liable for any of the deaths.
Shawn Hirt, Eric's wife of 26 years, told The Miami Herald that his death was an accident. She noted that authorities watched footage of the incident and saw him carrying something, then, at the last second, looked up with a “deer in the headlights” reaction.
Eric, who was partially deaf, had repeatedly crossed the unfenced tracks behind their house, Shawn told The Miami Herald. Their home is in a “quiet zone” with no train horn, and it was dark at the time of his death. Police told her the train was traveling at 79 miles per hour, Shawn told the outlet.
"We're devastated," she told the outlet, explaining that they had been living by the tracks for 35 years and now the tracks are just "a constant reminder of what we lost."
(Excerpt) Read more at people.com ...
there is no such thing as a graffiti artist
All are people who damage property.
Obviously we need to ban assault trains.
“Graffiti artist?” You mean “vandal.”
Hirt? Damn near killed ‘im.
Graffiti Artist is an oxymoron.
Hope the train is ok.
People who deface other people’s property are criminals, not artists...........🙄
Shoot taggers on sight!
One less vandal defcing things.
What a shame.
Should have gone and played in traffic or a drive by.
unfenced and in a “quiet zone”
yes, the fatality was a trespasser.
and yes, the train didn’t jump off its tracks to attack
but still, unfenced and a “quiet zone” ... ????
quiet zone-—a political decision....contributing to fatalities
Good! Graffiti artist my ass. Criminal who deserved what he got
He was nearly 50 y/o, partially deaf, had two daughters at home, yet still defacing running trains at 12 midnight.
I doubt if he ever took out a Life Insurance policy or anything as mundane and adult as that.
His Widow ‘can’t understand’ why there are not more safety features in place near the tracks.
According to the Enemy Media, trains are now doing the work that SUVs once did!
🎶Ai…got…uh…tagger by the tail
It’s plain to see
Won’t be much when I
Get through with he
He’s turnin’ cold
An’ lookin’ pretty pale
An’ it looks like
I got a tagger by the tail…”🎶
For an instant unearned title become a porn “star” or a graffiti “artist”.
Partially deaf person walks on the railroad track used by a high-speed train. Some people will do anything to win a Darwin award.
Brightline has not been found responsible or held liable for any of the deaths.
His last “work of art” was his body splattered down the side of a train....
His last “work of art” was his body splattered down the side of a train....
People will mistake it for a Jackson Pollock painting.
Trains dont kill people ,people kill people.
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