Train hits camper driven by 15-year-old; 4 dead

CBS

(AP) BROADVIEW, Saskatchewan - A collision between a Canadian Pacific freight train and a camper van has left three children and a woman dead and two others injured.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cpl. Rob King says the collision took place Thursday evening at a crossing in Saskatchewan. Canadian Pacific spokesman Kevin Hrysak says the crossing had no guard rails, lights or bells.

The van was being driven by a 15-year-old boy. He had serious injuries.

King says it is legal in Saskatchewan for a 15-year-old to drive if they have a learner's permit and an adult in the vehicle.

King says names are not immediately being released.

Hrysak says it doesn't appear that any train members were physically hurt, but "obviously this is extremely hard on them as well."

[deuelpete]

That is one of the reasons why I am still living at 73 is because at every train track whether there is nothing or signs or lights or bells I always stop and look both ways even if the person in back of me don't like it. Thats one thing I fear is trains.
Shirl

[formerlyluvnut]

by routan1 August 10, 2012 4:38 PM EDT
How do you figure it's the railroad's fault? The kid made a tragic mistake. He drove across the tracks in front of the train. Trains seldom go wandering around the neighborhood ambushing motorists. When you cross the tracks, it's up to you to make sure no train is coming. Even when crossing where a signal is present, (gates up, lights off) you'd better look first.
----------------------------------
It's ALWAYS somebody else fault for one's stupidity, accountability is unheard of; thats the way it is lol!

[erasmus111]

I am always the first person to say it's someone's own stupidity. But in this case, the railway is just as much to blame. There should be no intersection, no matter how small or remote, that doesn't have some sort of sign saying that there is a functioning railway, and a stop sign.

[erasmus111]

I am always the first person to say it's someone's own stupidity. But in this case, the railway is just as much to blame. There should be no intersection, no matter how small or remote, that doesn't have some sort of sign saying that there is a functioning railway, and a stop sign.

[Nononameplease]

What's that really really loud horn, and those really bright lights coming down the railroad track at us? Hmmmm?? I wonder if I should stop here?

[formerlyluvnut]

A permit at 15 is valid if a licensed adult is in the vehicle BUT nothing say that adult has to be awake. Who knows. Sad.

[erasmus111]

The mother and the railway needs to be charged.

[erasmus111]

Yes, the kid did make a mistake. He was 15 years old and immature. A driver with little or no experience. But it was his mother that allowed him to drive. Where was she? Why didn't she see the train. Her hands may not have been on the wheel, but they sure as hell should have been watching him and the road. It's her that should have first seen that train. Mommy was probably drunk and past out. Who the hell allows their 15 year old child to drive around with a bunch of passengers? Not a responsible one, that's for sure!

And the railway should have had at least LIGHTS at that crossing.

[erasmus111]

"When you cross the tracks, it's up to you to make sure no train is coming."

Sometimes they are hard to see unless it's a perfectly straight track for a ways. And sometimes they seem to be further away than you think, and people fail to take into consideration the speed they are traveling. In the out of the way places, they don't slow down.

[rwsmith29456]

I almost got wiped by a train coming out of trees in the dark. The train didn't even blow his whistle until AFTER he was across the road. No bells no nothing. I don't know if I had anything to do with it or not but a few weeks later there were signals at that crossing. In this story it seems like the poor kid was doing nothing wrong.

[Nononameplease]

Train coming out of trees? Do trains grow on trees now?

[DenverBroncofan]

Best case scenario we hear at a later date, they were all illegals

[erasmus111]

Unlikely. Canada doesn't have anywhere near the illegals you have. We actively hunt them down and deport them.

[OldTimeAmerican]

DenverBroncofan - either you sence of punishment fitting the crime is way off or you are just one sick and twisted person.

[tomanyt]

"Canadian Pacific spokesman Kevin Hrysak says the crossing had no guard rails, lights or bells." -- I think that's a problem. ALL RAILROAD CROSSING SHOULD HAVE: GUARD RAILS, LIGHT AND BELL. Period.

[erasmus111]

It's unusual that there was nothing. I don't know of anywhere, where I am, that doesn't have at least the lights. Even in remote areas.

It's also unusual that it is legal for a 15 year old to drive with a learners permit, with parent. Normally it is 16 years old. And I think that even at 16 they are not mature enough to be driving.

[EmtFF10]

@ Erasmus111, Come to NW Pa, I can show you many rural places that no type of warning systems in @ all, sometimes not even a railroad crossing sign either.

[credibility2]

It's the parents fault for letting a young kid drive in the area. The kid caused the accident and will now have to live the rest of his life knowing that he caused the deaths of four people. Wouldn't be surprised if the kid wasn't text-ing when the accident happened.

[RBantau]

Jump to conclusions much? I agree though that the kid should not be driving a camper with other kids in it. When they are that young it needs to be the kid and one adult one on one.

[tomanyt]

@ZERO(credibility2)..."The kid caused the accident and will now have to live the rest of his life knowing that he caused the deaths of four people." Where you there?

[realisticfromthemiddle]

Where's Erasmus on this one?

[erasmus111]

You looking for me? : ) See above.