Google Street View is from 2007
I find this quote from the article interesting: "The crossing doesn’t have lights, signals or gates that initiate when a train approaches." But they don't mention that the crossing has railroad tracks, crossbucks, stop signs, and a train equiped with headlights, a bell and a horn when it approaches. It's almost like the writer wants to pass the blame from the police officer onto the railroad for what happened. Was the police officer so wrapped up in his work that he didn't hear the train horn?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
York1 Crossing with no lights, signals, or gates.
Crossing with no lights, signals, or gates.
But clearly visible tracks and a crossbuck. Most every crossing has a history. Maybe that crossing could and should be improved, but that has no bearing on this event.
York1 John
Okay, it turns out the vic is an active TSA agent, and the crossing in question has a history.
https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/train-crossing-fatal-history/73-19b1aa25-318c-4a0d-ad7d-1161398aa8aa
So, does the railroad file charges against the city in this case? Not so much to collect damages, but just as a pre-emptive move to fix the blame, establishing the railroad as a co-plaintif.
wjstixUnfortunately, I suspect the officers were so focused on the possibility of the suspect having a gun she could use against them that their insticts just blocked out everything else.
I'd buy your explanation with one caveat. I don't believe their inattentiveness was driven by concerns for their own safety. Let's be realistic, by the time the suspect is locked in the back of the cruiser, you are also in handcuffs. I'd be willing to buy that the officers were so wrapped up in their own sense of priority, that nothing else mattered to them. I think it's sometimes called "heat of pursuit" or more charitably.... "passion for one's duty".
Of course, safety of anyone in their custody is also their duty as well. That's where it's gonna get sticky even if the gal was ~Al Capone~
OvermodSure hope Platteville is insured for eight figures or better.
I was thinking the same. The engineer was no doubt traumatized by this too. And I believe that in instances of willful negligence, all "workmans comp" type exclusions are waived (not that the engineer will go after his employer, rather that no workplace limitations will shelter the city from claims made by anyone's employees)
wjstix Unfortunately, I suspect the officers were so focused on the possibility of the suspect having a gun she could use against them that their insticts just blocked out everything else. We had something like that happen here a while back, an officer used their gun when they meant to use their tazer when trying to arrest someone wanted for skipping bail on an armed robbery charge.
Unfortunately, I suspect the officers were so focused on the possibility of the suspect having a gun she could use against them that their insticts just blocked out everything else. We had something like that happen here a while back, an officer used their gun when they meant to use their tazer when trying to arrest someone wanted for skipping bail on an armed robbery charge.
I doubt it.. they left her alone in the patrol car while they searched her vehicle.
mudchicken The stop sign attached to the cross-bucks should have been a clue?
The stop sign attached to the cross-bucks should have been a clue?
Well, they did stop. I'm not sure how dumb or how "situationally unaware" they'd have to be to park on a busy rail line.. First clue should have been the presence of railroad tracks.. Quite possibly they knew very well that they had parked on the tracks, and leaving her in the car helpless and by herself was a move calculated to scare the living daylights out of her. That to me at least is more believable than the cops made a mistake..
Ulrich Possibly the officers believed the line to be abandoned or not in use. Just the same though, parking on the tracks never a good idea.. training required to understand that? Hopefully not..
Possibly the officers believed the line to be abandoned or not in use. Just the same though, parking on the tracks never a good idea.. training required to understand that? Hopefully not..
*relatively flat, dirt road, 400' wide FGROW with no trees. Flat sweeping light curve to the north of the crossing. Crossing itself is in the tangent.
Convicted Onehttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/09/19/detained-woman-struck-train-police-car/10429610002/
Situational awareness goes a long way.
Recall the Detroit ladder truck that got hit several years ago.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Convicted Onehttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/09/19/detained-woman-struck-train-police-car/10429610002/ Okay, so they pull this gal over, detain her in their squad car parked on an active RR crossing while they search her vehicle.. And a train approaches and strikes the vehicle BEFORE the cops can rescue her? wow....
Okay, so they pull this gal over, detain her in their squad car parked on an active RR crossing while they search her vehicle.. And a train approaches and strikes the vehicle BEFORE the cops can rescue her? wow....
Police need to be trained on more than how to shoot their weapons. It is tough to fix stupid.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/09/19/detained-woman-struck-train-police-car/10429610002/
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