Rail Fatalities Can Be Prevented

On Feb. 17, 1996, my adorable 4-year-old son, Christian, died on railroad tracks in Lake Forest.

I still don’t know exactly why my baby-sitter took Christian and his own two young daughters walking on those railroad tracks. I only know that a train came along and my only child never returned from that walk. And that it’s a tragedy that doesn’t have to happen to anyone else.

Last year, Christian was one of 98 people who died in rail trespassing incidents or in accidents at rail crossings in California. More than 100 people were injured. Those seem like shockingly high numbers to me. But the experts tell me that California leads the nation in railroad trespassing fatalities involving pedestrians and ranks fifth in rail crossing fatalities involving vehicles.

No one should be on railroad tracks for any reason. A train can come along at any time from either or both directions. Modern trains can take anywhere from a third of a mile to more than a mile to stop. In memory of Christian’s life, I’ve decided to join Metrolink’s rail safety efforts, in hopes that I can help prevent any other person from losing a loved one this way.

ASTRID HARVEY

Foothill Ranch