The 17-year-old driver was born in a refugee camp in Nepal and came here at 13. He died in the hospital 5 days after the crash.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkvU3ER76tQ&t=1m37s
“The majority of refugees from Bhutan living in the U.S. are descendants of Nepalese migrants who settled in southern Bhutan in the late 1890s. Referred to as Lhotshampas or “People from the South,” their initial occupation was to clear the jungles in the southern part of the country. Over time, their population increased and they were able to experience prosperity. For example, some members worked in government posts and became educators. Unlike the Bhutanese Buddhist majority, the Nepali Bhutanese are mostly Hindu. Nation building processes from 1958 to 1985 resulted in a number of measures that targeted the Hindu Lhotshampas. Although they were granted Bhutanese citizenship through the 1958 Citizenship Act, multiple government strategies were implemented that socially and politically discriminated against this group. The 1989 “One Nation, One People” policy adopted by King Jigme Singye Wangchuk was promoted as an attempt to integrate the diverse peoples. In addition to mandating that all people wear the national dress of the north, the policy also prohibited the teaching of Nepali language in school. Those who resisted were taunted as “anti-nationals,” and many who could not provide tax receipts of 1958 as evidence of citizenship were deemed illegal residents. Increased government crackdown on prominent Lhotshampas and innocent villagers culminated in a series of events demanding for human rights and democracy in 1988–1989. Peaceful rallies in southern Bhutan from mid September through early October 1990 were met with arrest and torture. Thousands were forced to flee to Nepal in 1991 and by 1992, more than 100,000 had become refugees. The UNHCR established camps in Eastern Nepal to house the refugees. Despite the many talks to resolve the situation, a durable solution could not be reached. From 1991/1992 to 2007, the Bhutanese refugees lived in limbo. Unable to repatriate, Bhutanese refugees were allowed to resettle in third countries in 2007.”
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
[quote user="BaltACD"]
What is the saying in the commercial - 'Life happens fast!'
Life may happen fast, death can happen faster.
IT is a shame that three teens had to die. BaltACD is absolutely correct in his statements. Unfortunately, the three teens will not benefit from his wisdom.
Watching the video posted and another video iteration of the same incident . A couple of things come to mind:
All three Bhutanese teens (?) posssibly were newly emigrated(?)
Or were possibly U.S.residents for longer terms, which woulkd beg the question were driving liscenses current, or not?
One has to wonder how much driver's education they have/ or had they had?
They ignored 'active warning signals' at the crossing. Apparently, it seems, from the video(s). They sped up to cross before the train reached the crossing; It also appears that they crossed the center line into the oncoming lane to possibly avoid the railfan who was either standing beside the roadway, or was standing in their lane?
Judging from the drawings in the video, the train went quite a distance to stop approximately at the next road crossing (?).
One has to assume that the train was preceeding at or near 'Track Speed' for that area; due to length of stopping distance(?)
Would be interested if our Forum members in Louisville area could comment. They possibly would be familiar with the dynamics in the area of this crossing?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JYrtkAb9_g&t=3m20s
Article from Bhutan News Service
Community members, friends and families of three teens killed in train crash last year on March 14 gathered at Buechel Park Baptist church yesterday for a memorial event held by Bhutanese Society of Kentucky. In a solemn and well organized event, the families of Chita R. Chuwan, Nagin Thapa and Suk Man Rai were seen with tearful eyes, once again recollecting that tragic moment.
Speakers from across the Jefferson County Public School, including superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens, and resettlement agencies praised the community effort to manage such crisis and strong bond of community feeling Bhutanese people have shown for one another.
The president of BSK Mr. Jiwan Bista announced the soccer tournament to honor these champions of soccer, to be held on June 4 come summer. Mr. Jitu Basnet of Bhutanese American Sports council drove from Nashville, TN to pledge his support for the soccer tournament in the capacity of FIFA certified referee.
He also emphasized that the purpose of soccer tournament is to relay a message of safe driving for teens and youths, that such tragedy is not repeated.
Meanwhile, the lone survivor of the crash, Kismat Mishra is now preparing to go to college. He has improved in walking through regular exercise and have been socializing with his soccer friends.
The city has added a light and gate with cross bar in the crossing of Crawford Ave. and railroad crossing where the accident happened.
Another lesson may be is whenever standing at a crossing always be on the side of road that the train is coming from so anything debri flies away from you. If any train collision eminent always run diagonally toward train but away from track.
The guy in white hair is really lucky he didn't get hit with anything. Hopefully the lesson is not to stand so close to the tracks.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSrT_ll2vg8
Also, I didn't hear the air dump right away after impact......just kidding, lets not go down that path again....heh.
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