Jump to content

(AUS)SA Transport Dept. welcomes conviction of youth who played chicken with Mawson Lakes train.


Pakenhamtrain

Recommended Posts

Posted

From the AdelaideNOW

Transport Department welcomes conviction of youth who played chicken with Mawson Lakes train

Renato Castello

From: AdelaideNow

August 23, 2011 12:33PM

 

NEW footage has been released showing the terrifying moment a boy ran in front of a speeding train at Mawson Lakes.

 

The footage, released by the Transport Department , was taken from inside the driver's cabin of the train which narrowly missed the youth as he sprinted across tracks at the Mawson Lakes interchange on April 11 this year.

 

The youth emerged from behind a stationary train into the path of a Gawler-bound express train travelling at 90km/h.

 

He was clipped by the train, narrowly avoiding serious injury. Services were stopped for two hours while the incident was investigated.

 

The footage was released as part of National Rail Safety week and includes a voiceover by a train driver describing the trauma of people running in front of trains.

 

''Quite often we are caught completely unawares by what people are going to do,'' she says.

 

"We can put the brakes on but I don't think people realise it takes at least 100-200 metres to stop.

 

''We can't be sure whether or not we have hit them or not, we can only what to see if they come out from the side ... it's a horrible feeling not knowing.''

 

The youth in the video was convicted in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on August 16, on counts of stopping a train and impeding the proper operation of a passenger transport service.

 

He was ordered to undertake community service and write a letter of apology to the driver of the train.

 

Acting Rail Commissioner Peter Doggett said the youth's conviction reflected the serious nature of trespassing incidents and the difference between the youth's minor injuries and death was a matter of millimetres.

 

''Such incidents cause significant distress not only to witnesses, but to our drivers who have no course of action other than to pull up their train as quickly as possible which can often take hundreds of metres, and hope they don't hit someone,'' he said.

 

''Near-misses can cause as much stress and trauma to a driver as serious injury or fatal incidents.

 

''With National Rail Safety Week happening this week, it certainly is a timely reminder of the dangers of both inattention and trespassing.''

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/transport-department-welcomes-conviction-of-youth-who-played-chicken-with-mawson-lakes-train/story-fn6bqpju-1226120439811

He's bloody lucky he got away with that with only a broken ankle. It could of ended much worse.


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.