Lack Of Safety Features Increases Risk Of Metrolink-pedestrian Accidents

California residents in some heavily populated areas that are close to Metrolink track are at high risk of pedestrian accidents

. But in spite of a number of such accidents, Metrolink has been slow to install safety devices that can prevent pedestrians from walking onto the tracks.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Metrolink has failed to install safety equipment designed to protect pedestrians in several areas where its tracks overlap onto crowded urban areas. The agency has installed safety devices that prevent vehicles from crossing over the tracks, but has failed to install devices that protect pedestrians. The agency's failure to install such equipment has led to many lives lost over the years. One of those men was the 23-year-old son of Sherry Griswold. He died 12 years ago when he was hit by a freight train.Twelve years later, the site where he died continues to be easily accessible to pedestrians. His mother believes her son was likely skateboarding to a bus stop nearby, and could have crossed the tracks as a short cut. After he died, a fence was erected stretching from the intersection to the bus stop. But lack of maintenance has resulted in the fence being broken down.

Since he died, two more pedestrians have been killed at the same intersection, bringing the total number of pedestrians killed at that site to four. In Santa Ana, two pedestrians have been killed at an intersection where the Metrolink track intersects McFadden Avenue.In 2000, a 12-year-old girl Elizabeth Tepox was struck by a Metrolink train.After her death, officials at the nearby school called for a pedestrian bridge to be installed, so that children could use the area safely. Needless to say, that didn't happen.

Metrolink, as we reported earlier this week, has been too quick to blame deaths on its tracks as cases of suicide. Under Federal Railroad Administration rules, the agency is required to report accidental deaths to the FRA. It is however, not required to report any suicides that occur on its tracks. As the Los Angeles Times reported last week, investigations are rushed through, and conclusions quickly drawn to rule these deaths as suicides. When there are no witnesses to a collision, it's becomes hard for the family of the victim to prove that this was no suicide, but a case of a pedestrian collision.

It's easy to assume that a trespasser or pedestrian killed in a collision with a train has committed suicide. The fact is that there are too many accidental deaths being labeled suicides, and the agency doesn't seem to be doing much to investigate why there seem to be an inordinate number of "suicide" deaths on its tracks. Elsewhere, rail agencies make use of a range of safety features to keep pedestrians off the tracks and safe. They install swinging arms, bright warning lights, railings and one way gates to prevent pedestrian from colliding with trains.

California train accident lawyers also find it hard to understand why the agency has failed to make it impossible for pedestrians to cross over tracks.

by:Robert Reeves

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