Boy Killed by NY Train a Graffiti Artist

[vtCSX]

Hi all,

As i am in the field of law enforcement, this issue is close to my heart as a railfan and an officer..

It's not that we don't place a higher value on the boxcar, but the laws are in place to keep this "poor 13-year old" kid (a.k.a. moron) alive.  If you aren't supposed to be in a place, there is probably a good reason for it.  As far as railroad employees getting killed on the job...yes they make mistakes, and sometimes die for it.  But they were supposed to be there in the first place!!!!

I'm sick and tired of this countrys lack of responsibility for one's own actions.  I see time and time again in the courts where we charge people for SERIOUS crimes, and it is ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE"S FAULT.  Bulls*&$!!!

If there aren't neon signs and landmines, and god only knows what else to prevent tresspassing, people still do it.  And even if on your PRIVATE property you placed these things, and still someone entered and got hurt while trying to get around your preventive measures, that is your fault too!

Look at the news wire with the lawsuit filed against Amtrak.  The lady pushed her car through the lowered gates, and the family is suing because they say the crossing shouldn't be there!!!!  Unreal!!!!

And comments about being insensitive...why should we feel bad about a kid who paid the price for his stupidity.  Why has it almost become a requirement to be politically correct about every facet of everyone else's actions?  Sensitive.....Please....It's like fighting a war, but trying not to kill anybody who's shooting at you....

I realize I'm ranting a little bit here, and I apologize.  A twelve hour shift will do that to you.

But enough is enough.  People choose their own destiny, and if things go bad while doing stuff they know is wrong....TOO BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marc

[Goober]

In my opinion some of the comments have been insensitive to the boy and his family, however, your comment on the "kinship with railfans" is equally insensitive. No one said he "deserved" to die. No one said he didn't deserve a chance. A boxcar is NOT more valuable than a human life. However, in all of life there are consequences for actions. The consequence of his actions was that he chose to put himself in danger and he paid the ultimate price, was the price too high? Absolutely! BUT he made the decision, and it is about time that we realize that we ourselves are responsible for what we do and not try to blame society. Had you met the same fate that this young boy did, I would feel bad for you and your family, but I would say that you made a stupid choice and you also would have paid too high a price, but you chose. The great majority of railfans honor the RR's laws of trespass for the consequences that happened here. In a rail yard there is very little room for error and the aforementioned boxcar is far less forgiving than any railfan. I commend you for your work with the youth of Compton, CA and believe that you changed some lives, and more of us should get involved.
My thoughts and prayers for the family.

[Anonymous]

A reason I don't have any kinship with railfans is the sanctity they place on railroad equipment.  A 13 year old boy dies, and the railfans side with the box car he was spray-painting.

Some time ago I was involved in a program for youth from tough neighborhoods.  I got to know some kids from Compton, CA, very well who had been involved in things far more serious than playing with spray paint.  I have to admit, what shocked me after I got there was the realization that they were just people like me; fundamentally kind, good, intelligent, humane people - maybe moreso than the jerks I knew in college.

I rode an open box car cross country when I was 18.  I suppose if I had died the railfans would have said, "he deserved it - the criminal."

Everyone deserves a chance.  No one at the age of 13 deserves to die.

[MichaelSol]

Wow.  This is really a tough crowd.  Doesn't anyone think that a death sentence is a stiff penalty to pay for trespassing?

Death sentence? Who sentenced him to death? He did by being stupid. No court did, nobody but himself sentenced him to death.

Did I say tough?  Maybe inhumane would be a better word. 

I contrast this with the recent threads regarding railroad workers killed on the job. Railroad workers get the benefit of the doubt and every excuse under the sun why they made a mistake, even as trained professionals on the job.

Young people don't get that benefit here.

Even though lacking judgment is one of the reasons we call them young people.

A 13 year old boy made a mistake, did something stupid, and paid for it with his life. Most of you were lucky when you did your stupid stuff. He wasn't.

Godspeed to him and prayers to his devastated family.

 

[solzrules]

Wow.  This is really a tough crowd.  Doesn't anyone think that a death sentence is a stiff penalty to pay for trespassing?

Death sentence? Who sentenced him to death? He did by being stupid. No court did, nobody but himself sentenced him to death.

Did I say tough?  Maybe inhumane would be a better word. 

That is ridiculous. Did I say he should have been killed? No. It is a shame he chose that life style and it cost him his life. But, the blame for this rests solely on him. If there was a "death sentance" he is the one that pronounced it. What exactly is inhumane?

Very well said. 

It is unfortunate that the boy's actions resulted in his death, but finally he is responsible for his own choice to do what he did.  There is a reason why trespassing is bad.  It isn't because RR's are trying to cramp artistic impression, but rather because they are trying to run a railroad safely.   

[ericsp]

Wow.  This is really a tough crowd.  Doesn't anyone think that a death sentence is a stiff penalty to pay for trespassing?

Death sentence? Who sentenced him to death? He did by being stupid. No court did, nobody but himself sentenced him to death.

Did I say tough?  Maybe inhumane would be a better word. 

That is ridiculous. Did I say he should have been killed? No. It is a shame he chose that life style and it cost him his life. But, the blame for this rests solely on him. If there was a "death sentance" he is the one that pronounced it. What exactly is inhumane?

[Datafever]

Wow.  This is really a tough crowd.  Doesn't anyone think that a death sentence is a stiff penalty to pay for trespassing?

Death sentence? Who sentenced him to death? He did by being stupid. No court did, nobody but himself sentenced him to death.

Did I say tough?  Maybe inhumane would be a better word. 

[ericsp]

Wow.  This is really a tough crowd.  Doesn't anyone think that a death sentence is a stiff penalty to pay for trespassing?

Death sentence? Who sentenced him to death? He did by being stupid. No court did, nobody but himself sentenced him to death.

[ericsp]

If he had not been committing a crime he would still be alive.

Maybe, but painting a mural shouldn't be a crime.  In L.A., the local council let some of these graffitti artists satisfy their need to paint by creating murals.  Some are in underpasses, some are close to the tracks so train passengers can see.  These murals are not ugly---they really are impressive.  It's the gang graffiti artists that I can't stand.

If it is not your property and you do not have permission it should be, and is, a crime to paint a mural.

[Datafever]

Wow.  This is really a tough crowd.  Doesn't anyone think that a death sentence is a stiff penalty to pay for trespassing?

Maybe I'm just biased.  I used to spend a lot of volunteer time working with teens in trouble.

I do feel sorry for the boy.  Under other circumstances, maybe someone could have helped him straighten his life out.  Maybe an understanding railfan could have noticed his activities and befriended him - helping him redirect his talents in other directions.

My heart also goes out to his family and friends. 

[bnsfkline]

They never said that they were defacing Railroad property, but still, he was trespassing on railroad property, so I have no sympathy for him, he should have known better.

[spokyone]

If he had not been committing a crime he would still be alive.

Maybe, but painting a mural shouldn't be a crime.  In L.A., the local council let some of these graffitti artists satisfy their need to paint by creating murals.  Some are in underpasses, some are close to the tracks so train passengers can see.  These murals are not ugly---they really are impressive.  It's the gang graffiti artists that I can't stand.

Tresspassing is a crime. So is defacing railroad propery.

[Anonymous]

If he had not been committing a crime he would still be alive.

Maybe, but painting a mural shouldn't be a crime.  In L.A., the local council let some of these graffitti artists satisfy their need to paint by creating murals.  Some are in underpasses, some are close to the tracks so train passengers can see.  These murals are not ugly---they really are impressive.  It's the gang graffiti artists that I can't stand.

[ericsp]

If he had not been committing a crime he would still be alive.

[Railfan1]

No comment...

[locomutt]

 

Just thought I'd pass this one along,with NO JUDGEMENT!!

NEW YORK (AP) - A 13-year-old boy had just finished painting graffiti near railroad tracks he was struck and killed by a commuter train, authorities and friends said Saturday.

A Long Island Rail Road train hit Ari Kraft between stations in Queens during the evening rush hour Friday, police said. The city's medical examiner said he died of "blunt impact injuries to the head, torso and extremities."

The teen and three pals had been painting on the elevated tracks near a station, his friends said. As he crossed the tracks to head home, the train, carrying about 1,000 people, slammed into him. Train service was suspended for hours.

Friends said he often created large murals with inscriptions like "Remember 9/11" - under the tag name "Corporal."