Teen Walking Struck by Train
A teenage boy in Franklin was struck and killed while walking near the train tracks last week in what is being called “a tragic accident” by his devastated family. Identified by police as David Hernandez, 17, of Franklin, the police say that he was hit by a freight train last Thursday around 9:45 a.m. near the Liberty Pike Crossing.
According to the police, Mr. Hernandez was walking with his back to the oncoming train and wearing stereo earbuds at the time of the accident. The train had two locomotives, 21 empty cars and 13 loaded cars. He was hit not far from his home and emergency responders found him in a wooded area north of the Liberty Pike crossing, near the tracks. Franklin Police stated that he died at the scene.
An engineer from CSX, the company that operates the railroad tracks where the accident took place, saw that someone had been hit by the train and immediately notified the company’s dispatch system. The dispatch system for CSX then called the police. A spokesperson from the company stated that pedestrians being hit by trains in the Franklin area is rare, and investigators have not found anything unusual in the operation of the train. The train’s horn was working at the time of the incident and was used properly to warn Mr. Hernandez of the oncoming train.
The family of Mr. Hernandez said that he was walking along that path to get to a business where his girlfriend was at work. He had just finished up his junior year of high school and was working at a local restaurant in town. Unfortunately, all reports of Mr. Hernandez’s death seem to show that there was no indication that this was anything other than a tragic accident.
Nashville Pedestrian Accidents
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security tracks the number of fatal vehicle and pedestrian accidents around the state. This year, a total of 351 fatal accidents have taken place, and 36 of those deaths have been as a result of a pedestrian accident. Some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents are attributed to driver inattentiveness, talking on cell phones, eating, driver confusion, aggressive driving, not obeying traffic signals, and other negligent driving habits.
However, pedestrian activity also leads to many accidents involving people walking and vehicles. Walking where there is no crosswalk, walking too close to the road or tracks, inattentive walking, walking while on a cell phone wearing earbuds or other headphones, and more can also lead to pedestrian accidents with motor vehicles.
Call our Personal Injury Lawyers Now
While very rare, pedestrian accidents often result in devastating injuries and even death when a person is hit by a car, truck, or train. At Calhoun Law, PLC, our experienced personal injury lawyers have been helping clients in the Nashville area get the compensation that they deserve. For a free and confidential review of your claims, call or contact our office now.
