Boy stops train with van, takes pictures of emergency stop

[Anonymous]

An Elk River boy is under investigation after stopping a vehicle on the railroad tracks and forcing a train to conduct an emergency stop.

The boy allegedly took pictures of the train while the engineer frantically worked to stop it, Beahen said.

The incident occurred at about 3:25 p.m. April 6, when the boy reportedly jumped out of a black van after parking it on the railroad tracks at Ogden Street.

The engineer on the train spotted the vehicle and sounded its horn before stopping the train after it became apparent the van wasn’t going to move.

Another person in the van moved it at the last minute, saving it from being hit by the train, which had been traveling eastbound at about 40 mph.

The train stopped just on the other side of the intersection in which the van had been stopped, Beahen said, and the engineer got the license plate number from the vehicle and confronted the boys.

The boys in the van were gone by the time officers arrived, and when officers went to the boy’s house, his little brother told them he was taking pictures as part of a safety project for a school health class.

Beahen said it is likely the boy will be charged with some crime in the incident.

[dharmon]

Were either of the boys named Dougal or Doggy?[:)]

[Anonymous]

I would of hated to be the boy left in the van, just to move it at the last second.

[Anonymous]

It's amazing how stupid some people can be! It's these kind of incidents that give a bad image of railfans to many in the public...let's hope these boys are taught a lesson!

[daveklepper]

Aren't the parents really the ones at fault here? Dave Klepper

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

Aren't the parents really the ones at fault here? Dave Klepper

I agree - I think parents ought to have to pony up the $ for damages on what their children do. Maybe there would be a little more parental guidence instead of just children furniture - you just move them from place to place.

Mook

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

Aren't the parents really the ones at fault here? Dave Klepper

I agree - I think parents out to have to pony up the $ for damages on what their children do. Maybe there would be a little more parental guidence instead of just children furniture - you just move them from place to place.

Mook

Alas, if Mom or Dad give them a swat on the butt or a thorough reading of the riot act, some ninny will call the cops on them for physical or verbal abuse...[2c][soapbox][banghead]

[Anonymous]

I agree also, if the parents where good parents you would think they wouldnt let these to boys go out and in dangered of getting killed!


Hi, I support Operation Lifesaver, you should to.[:)]

[JoeKoh]

Parents should anty up the cash for the fines plus the cost of any delayed shipments.
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

Aren't the parents really the ones at fault here? Dave Klepper

And I don't agree- The parents can not assume 100% of the blame, once again, we've taken the route of Blamming other people. The boy has to have a minimum age of 126 Granted or even 17 maybe 18, Most likely 18 because that type of project is somehting that is assighned in a senior year.

So were going to hold the parents responsible for somehting an 18 year old does?

I agree that f the kids are under 18 then the parents should know where their children are at all costs, but blamming the parents entirely? Thats grasping at straws, and if i was on a jury, that wouldn't fly with me.

Sure the child displayed Purile behavior, that was dangerous on almost every single level, i agree with that.

[rrnut282]

It does give proponents of a "parenting license" (you can have children only if you qualify) ammunition, doesn't it?
Anybody want to vote for 10 lashes on the public square for both kids and their parents?

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

Aren't the parents really the ones at fault here? Dave Klepper

And I don't agree- The parents can not assume 100% of the blame, once again, we've taken the route of Blamming other people. The boy has to have a minimum age of 126 Granted or even 17 maybe 18, Most likely 18 because that type of project is somehting that is assighned in a senior year.

So were going to hold the parents responsible for somehting an 18 year old does?

I agree that f the kids are under 18 then the parents should know where their children are at all costs, but blamming the parents entirely? Thats grasping at straws, and if i was on a jury, that wouldn't fly with me.

Sure the child displayed Purile behavior, that was dangerous on almost every single level, i agree with that.

Kevin - in my state, the age of majority is 19. Yes, parents should be responsible until the child is 19. How they collect the $ from him is their decision.

Mook

[zardoz]

Those brats were lucky I was not at the controls of the train. I only set the brakes AFTER the impact. Why risk a derailment just to try and save someone who will do nothing but pollute the gene pool.


BTW-the dopes said to the cops they were taking pictures for a SAFETY project in health class? What was the subject/title of the project? How about:

The Stupidest Thing One Can Do With A Vehicle

An Example of Sheer Idiocy

Dumb and Dumber

Goodby Cruel World

Morons Are Us

#1 of the Top Ten Examples of Cerebrum Malfunction

Adventures of the Wit Brothers (Dim, Nit, & Half)

IQ? We Don't Need No Stinkin' IQ!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

Aren't the parents really the ones at fault here? Dave Klepper

And I don't agree- The parents can not assume 100% of the blame, once again, we've taken the route of Blamming other people. The boy has to have a minimum age of 126 Granted or even 17 maybe 18, Most likely 18 because that type of project is somehting that is assighned in a senior year.

So were going to hold the parents responsible for somehting an 18 year old does?

I agree that f the kids are under 18 then the parents should know where their children are at all costs, but blamming the parents entirely? Thats grasping at straws, and if i was on a jury, that wouldn't fly with me.

Sure the child displayed Purile behavior, that was dangerous on almost every single level, i agree with that.

Kevin - in my state, the age of majority is 19. Yes, parents should be responsible until the child is 19. How they collect the $ from him is their decision.

Mook

I still disagree- if a 10 year old can be tried as an adult in cases like murder, then a 16-17 year old can sure as heck be tried as an adult in such a case.

[pmsteamman]

The kids are lucky the train didnt derail, just throwing a train ( especially a very long one ) is not always a good thing to do. The slack could have run in and sent empty cars into the ditch. I understand why the engineer did it and would have done the same thing. I think they sould charge these kids with,1 tresspassing, 2 delaying a train, and then just plain knock them upside the head for being so dumb. Mind you this comes from someone who has hit 7 vechiles and sent two people to a early grave so I kinda am heated about this subject.

[Anonymous]

That's unreal.

I wonder if the footage they got for their project was any good......
It's interesting to think what kind of a state of mind these guys were in to think that what they were doing wasn't wrong??

[wabash1]

My train is only put in emergency after the impact. I have several accidents under my belt and it is always after the impact . there is several people out in public that try and impress someone with the chicken game. A good way of getting them to move is turn the headlight off.( is real good at night they run quick ) also works in daylight to.. the biggest crime i can see that these boys have dont is intentionally holding up interstate commerce. with fines up to 1million and 10 years in prison or both. this is a federal crime. and if the railroad wants to prosecute it will stick. Ed can tell more on this subject. but the kids will get off light cause the railroads wont want bad pr. dispatchers and trainmasters dont like their trains put into emergency unless you hit something. there is nothing they can do about it if you do because its a judgement call, but most times the people will move and leave and your stopped. and the delays mount up. the good ole ripple effect.

[Willy2]

I totally believe that the parents were really the ones at fault in the situation. As parents they have the responsibility of knowing what their kids are doing. If they knew that their kids were going to do this they should have given them a swift kick you know where and put extra energy into monitering them. If they didn't know, then maybe they need the swift kick and they need to start watching their kids like hawks and doing what parents are meant to do! Keep their children out of trouble!

Willy

[vsmith]

If these were MY kids you'd hear NASA stating that two objects were heading towards the MOON at high speed with what looked like a large boot print on each of thier asses!

[dekemd]

I agree with Kevin on this one. They were at least sixteen to be able to drive. They probably told their parents they were going to go take a picture of a train for their project. If your kids told you this would you suspect they were going to do something this stupid? Probably not, unless they've done stupid stunts like this before. The blame for this rest squarely on the kids. They're old enough to know better. I think the 10 lashes would be appropriate punishment. I imagine the engineer had to use a lot of self-restraint to keep from beating them senseless on the spot.

Derrick

[tree68]

I'm going to take the fence on this one.

The parents clearly cannot control every little thing their kids do, especially when they get mobile. We may never know if this was a spur of the moment lark, or if the kid is a regular ne'er-do-well. Regardless, the kid(s) get a large portion of the blame, and if they did the crime, they should do the "time."

On the other hand, the parents are still legally responsible. It was probably the family van that was used in the commission of the crime. So, the parents should still get something out of the deal. If nothing else, it will help Mom & Dad decide that punishment beyond whatever the authorities might dish out would be appropriate.

I hope the kid hasn't gotten rid of his bike yet. If it was my kid, when he got back from the moon, he wouldn't have to worry about sitting his sore behind in the driver's seat for a (long) while, perhaps unless a responsible adult (ie, me) was with him.

[Mookie]

You know - I have a feeling that most engineers would not put it into emergency - not because they want to kill someone, but for their own safety first. And what if this "child" had stalled the car/van and not gotten it off the tracks in time - could he judge exactly how close that train was?

Parents today are way too lax in their training of their own children. You don't have to beat a kid to death to get him/her to show respect, pay attention and think before you do something as foolish as tangle with something bigger than a bread box. Your own actions would take care of a lot of those lessons. I still think we need to involve the parents more in the payment of the damages until the child is the age of majority. We taxpayers are not only cash registers, we are babysitters as well.

And Kevin - in most states, they will plea bargin a 17 year old down to a juvenile status so he won't be tried as an adult - and if he murders and goes to prison - he is out at 19 here, 18 other places. Plus his record is sealed and no one will be the wiser.

Mook

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Were either of the boys named Dougal or Doggy?[:)]

And people wonder why I don't go here anymore

[Anonymous]

What an idiot!

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Were either of the boys named Dougal or Doggy?[:)]

And people wonder why I don't go here anymore

It was a joke Dougal..that's why I put a little smiley by it....just pulling your leg....

[Roadtrp]

I wonder how many of the people here blaming the parents have teenaged children (or had them) themselves? Anyone who thinks you can control everything a 16 or 17 year old does is either incredibly naive or runs their family like Saddam ran Iraq.

Edited to add...

Hello all. This is my first post on this forum, though many of you probably know me from the MR forum.

-Jerry

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Were either of the boys named Dougal or Doggy?[:)]

And people wonder why I don't go here anymore

It was a joke Dougal..that's why I put a little smiley by it....just pulling your leg....

I guessed that but after that comment I got about my spelling (not by you) I've been overreacting to everything people post about me. Sorry about that![:)]

[Anonymous]

I cannot beleive how stupid people can be and how they act..a safety film by placing himself as others in danger..safety..get him the hell off the road as the rails befor someone dies..by the way wheres the web cam?

be good be great

David brown

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

Aren't the parents really the ones at fault here? Dave Klepper

I agree - I think parents ought to have to pony up the $ for damages on what their children do. Maybe there would be a little more parental guidence instead of just children furniture - you just move them from place to place.

Mook

That's a lot of flat spots on wheels to be fixed!!!

I thought they cancelled that show "Jackass".

Sorry Mark, they must have been thinking of of the OLD Dougal [;)]

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Roadtrp

I wonder how many of the people here blaming the parents have teenaged children (or had them) themselves? Anyone who thinks you can control everything a 16 or 17 year old does is either incredibly naive or runs their family like Saddam ran Iraq.

Edited to add...

Hello all. This is my first post on this forum, though many of you probably know me from the MR forum.

-Jerry

I raised a daughter - alone - she is all grown and has a family of her own. I didn't expect to know where or what 24/7 - but by golly I made it my business to know a good share of that 24/7. It is called paying attention and listening.

Mook