Laredo Attorney, 37, Dies in Unusual Train Accident

Laredo, TX, Morning Times ^ | 06-01-04 | Almada, Laurel

[Theodore R.]

Attorney Fernando Laurel III dies in unusual train accident

BY LAUREL ALMADA Times staff writer

One of the three things Fernando Laurel, III, was most passionate about was his family ranch - the ranch he left moments before he died in an unusual train accident Monday morning.

Known to his close friends and family as "Fernie," Laurel was reportedly leaving the Laurel family ranch at the 27-mile marker along IH-35 when his truck either stopped or stalled on the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

"We don't believe he was trying to beat the train. The truck had to have stopped," Department of Public Safety Trooper Juan Sandoval said.

He said the train was moving north along the tracks at about 8:45 a.m. when the train engine's conductor saw Laurel's truck sitting on the track in front of him.

The conductor reported later to law enforcement officials called to the scene that he saw Laurel exit the vehicle and start running away from the tracks, Sandoval said.

Although the local attorney was able to clear the tracks, when the train hit the truck, the truck was thrown directly into his path.

Sandoval said Laurel suffered severe head injuries, and was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Oscar Martinez.

Several hours after the accident, Laurel's brother-in-law, Oscar J. Hale Jr., said the father of two girls would be missed greatly.

"He was a devoted father, husband and son," he said.

The 37-year-old Laurel is the husband of Patricia Laurel and the son of Fernando Laurel Jr. and Lorraine Laurel. His sib- lings, Lorraine Laurel, Sandra Laurel and Kristina Laurel-Hale, are all local attorneys.

"He had a lot of friends, and will be missed by a lot of people," Hale said. "It's definitely a tragedy."

He said it is ironic that Fernando Laurel died the way he did, since the family ranch was one of the things he was most passionate about, along with his family and his work.

(Times staff writer Laurel Almada can be reached at 728-2564 or e-mailed at laurel@lmtonline.com.)

06/01/04

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[Theodore R.]

What a horrible holiday tragedy. This young man would still be living had he stayed on his ranch during the holiday. We never know, as Frost wrote, of "the road not taken."

[xJones]

That is really bad luck. It sounds like his truck stalled on a railroad track with a train coming, and then as he ran from his truck to get away, the truck was knocked into him. Poor guy.

[TXnMA]

Horrible, indeed!

Lesson learned:

1. No vehicle is worth your life.
2. Exit your vehicle while the train is distant.
3. Run away at right angle to the tracks until clear of your vehicle.
4. Then turn 45 degrees toward the oncoming train (but still away from both train and vehicle. Keep running.
5. Stop at 100 yards, turn, and enjoy the show...
6. Never run the same direction the train is moving. (...never let the train 'chase' you...) As in this case, the field of flying debris can be lethal.

(...simple application of vector analysis...)

[Max Combined]

It's a start.