No good deed goes unpunished.

He did not have further details, including the woman's identity and her connection to the child

She was the imbecile that put the child's life in danger by trying to beat a train.

I've been involved in incidents like this one...the stroller became stuck in the tracks. It sounds as though she was crossing over the tracks rather than a grade crossing and the strollers wheels became wedged in the gauge.

People have no idea just how fast a train moves and even though it looks a long way off...it's not. The train will not stop unless it hits a car or ped. The woman should have removed the child from the stroller, she panicked and it cost her life!

The mother is no hero to put herself and baby in such jeapordy. The loser will be the child that grows up without the mother and the family that will have to step in and raise her.

They will be the heroes not the mother whose carelessness was fatal. Her panicking did not cost her life, going around the guards with a train coming did.

Folks:

Sounds like a several things went together to create this tragedy.

• She should not have tried to cross if the warning bells were sounding and the crossing arms were down.
• The physical condition of the rail crossing may have been compromised, which can easily entrap a wheel of a carriage or even a person's foot.
• She lost her sensibilities and did not grab the child and flee.

Obviously we can see she should not have crossed, and she should have unbuckled the child and split.

Regarding the rails, I know in my city most of the crossings are in horrible shape and need to be rebuilt, however this is difficult to do as they are under the jurisdiction of both the governmental body that is responsible for the particular road that crosses the rails, and also the owner's and operator's of the rails. These repairs can take decades to agree to and accomplish, as I have personally witnessed in our city that waited over ten years for a single rail crossing to be improved and made safe, even though it is a major walkway for school children going to schools on either side of these tracks. Thank goodness the rails aren't used much right now, however there is a plan to increase commercial rail traffic by a significant amount in the near future. In addition these rails would make an ideal mass transit rail commuter line in the more distant future, so that will really increase the rail use.

This in a way is part of the infrastructure rebuilding this country needs to get on with as soon as we can. Our rail systems are for the most part pretty old and outdated, and we will be depending on them much more in the near future as energy continues to push policy around, no matter what politicians and naysayers wish to believe.

Have a nice Sunday, and keep your eyes peeled for danger in your lives. You are your best hope to survive.

Were any of you there, shut up with the judgment. You don't know how long she struggled with the stroller.

The great thing about the human mind is that it jumps to conclusions to keep us out of danger. The bad thing now, is idiots use it to fill in the unknown in situations like this so they can draw conclusions.

I pray for the baby and the mom (RIP).

well said, Kurt. I didn't read anything in the very limited information to account for all the attacks on the woman (mom?). Many towns have crossings all through town, residential areas, with warnings of on-coming trains. Who knows how long she had struggled, if the train was even in view when she became stuck. Good people will panic and not think clearly in a life/death emergency, who knows, maybe she did try to release the child from the stroller...

When I posted my original comment I told my husband I would come back later and find tons of nasty comments on how horrible she was, how she deserved it, Darwin comments, and all kinds of idiotic comments. I guess all of you were there and you know what happened? It didn't say any of the things most of you inferred, and I think it stinks that instead of mourning a woman who DID push a baby out of the way of a train most of you are condemning her.
Do you know if she was unable to open the straps and knew she couldn't get the baby out? Do you know that she was negligent? Or if she was deaf or whatever else or how long she struggled with it?
You know, I can see why the world is in such crappy shape. People read an article that states simply that a woman was pushing a stroller across a train crossing and she gets vilified for all kinds of horrible things. How about it is unfortunate and I am sorry for her family's loss and that she won't get to see her child grow up if she is the mother? Geez.

How can you feel the collision between a 120 pound or so person and a very large train? Was it a HO scale model train? We will pray for the family.

Update

CBS News Radio reported that she ignored the warnings and went past the closed gate, which was closed waiting for the train.

NEVER TRY AND BEAT A TRAIN. YOU WILL LOSE EVERY TIME.

ram, when this first appeared I put a link to the local paper that indicated she had tried to cross the tracks after the arms went down and the warning lights went on. She would not have had to push the child out of the way if she had just waited!!!

Yeah, we feel sorry for the family, but that was just not right that she ignored the warnings that most of us do not ignore! If she had not ignored them she and the child BOTH would be here today. What part of that did you not get! I think it stinks that the baby is now without a mom because of her actions!

I refuse to make a hero out of someone who did this!

see my comment at $8.2 for the link.

I was wondering the same thing, wish they had more information. Why cross when you should be able to see or hear a train coming and/or why not just take the baby out of the stroller and get away? How sad though, at least she was able to save the child.

"when the stroller became stuck in the tracks"

Please read more carefully. She was not doing any of the stupid things that you accuse her of!

She wasn't racing the train. Please be more sensitive.

"when the stroller became stuck in the tracks"

Dave and KC-- it is likely that the story was updated after Mac's post, as new information was made available to the press.

Thanks Guys, but I stick to my original comment. If ya see the train and hear the whistle, you should have more than enough time to get the child out of the stroller, if not your pushin it. Other than that was it one of those 350 MPH hour trains in Europe or China?

In Italy, at all the train crossings and depots, they have a simple sign that denotes not to cross the tracks other than the places clearly marked to do so. It's a skull and crossbones. Everyone knows what it means. "Do this and die." They use the skull and crossbones on everything: overhead power lines, electrical appliances and water immersion, crosswalks (as in not using them); etc.

It's sad this lady lost her life so tragically, but you've got to draw the line at stupidity somewhere. The same goes for the cars and other vehicles who try to beat the training at the crossing. Trains can not stop on a dime--period. Learn this and maybe you'll live.

It doesn't say anywhere that she was crossing at a spot that she wasn't supposed to be crossing. It said the stroller became stuck in the tracks. She may have been stuck there for several minutes, it doesn't say. Shouldn't just assume she was in the wrong.

Darwin would appreciate if you didn't say that in a public forum.

Richard please go to your local library and ask the librarian to assist you in finding either Darwin's actual works or an author that explains his theories and rationales. It appears you do not know what you are talking about.

survival of the fittest or natural selection. So please explain why Richard is not correct by referring to Darwin? This incident is a classic example of poor judgement and poor judgement helps to winnow the species.

Probably better to say "Natural Selection always wins"

Antibiotics probably saved Richard from being a victim. He probably never made a mistake either.

Jessie,

Richard could be wrong since Darwin's theory was all about survival of the best adapted till they have a chance to breed and pass on their genes. So if the woman that died was the mother (the article doesn't specify) or any kind of mother, then you both would be wrong.

Side note, Darwin was very specific about his theory not being about the fittest, since Natural Selection tends to favor a kinda half arse solution, i.e. look at our knees, they certainly do the job, but they are far from best solution for how our bodies work, biometrically speaking they're a weak point in our bodies. Basically Natural Selection, is just about seeing if the organism can live long enough to breed, which is the ultimate reward for living creatures...at least according to the theory.

We are polluting the gene pool by preventing stupid people from killing themselves before they breed.

Insensitive, smug jerk. There's no indication that the train was close when she tried to cross, but even if it was, the lack of human empathy on these blogs is appalling; endless comments that laugh at tragedies like these and worse.Not ONE of you has ever NOT done a stupid thing.

richard-795963

Darwin always wins.

And... some richards are dicks. Real funny, Dick.

Darwin is dead.

If Darwin's studies are to be held accurate, then how did richard-795963 make it this far? His Mom should have been hit by a falling piano a long time ago, like as in prior to his birth, and we'd been allot better off. Now all we got to look forward to are more moronic brainless twits running around someday. Pray for falling pianos folks, pray real hard. smiles

I could see if there were more details saying she tried to beat the train, but it sounds like she got stuck, so she could have been trying to dislodge the stroller for a few minutes...I agree that if she heard the train, get the baby out and run.

Some people like to try and look smarter, I guess.

According to the local news reports, witnesses told police the crossing arms were down and the warning lights were flashing. Sounds as if she was trying to beat the train.

Perhaps if mental clarity would have overcome panic, it may been quicker to remove the baby from the stroller. We'll never know.

Locally, a woman resisted efforts by a good Samaritan who tried to pull her from her car which had stalled at a rural train crossing. So determined was she to restart and save her car that the rescuer had to step back and watch the freight train hit her car. With her in it.

Happy: Thank you for posting the additional information. Had that been mentioned in the report itself, my comment probably would have been different.

You are welcome. I went to the Press-Enterprise, the local Riverside paper. Figured they'd have more details. Now, whether they are accurate...

Taking a child out of a stroller is time-consuming because you have all the restraints to undo. I can see why she was trying to dislodge the wheel but it also says the train was already too close to be doing any of this.

What a legacy.

Jessie...the lights and gates on a protected crossings are timed to flash, ring and drop 30 seconds, at track speed, before the train reaches the crossing. The engineer will also blow the crossing, 2 longs, a shot and a long. The ditch lights will also flash.

Today all locomotives have forward facing cameras that tape the movement to protect the carriers in just such an event. Grade crossing accidents occur 100s of times a week

Sometimes the grossing doesn't work properly or at all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_crossing

and poor taste, no compassion, and potentially the ignorance of those commenting without knowing any other facts about the situation.

Hey Camille...after you get 70 of them, then comment...the real victims are the train crews that have to live with these type accidents.

I lost all compassion for these people after the first...who I do have compassion for are the innocent children that are in the car and waving and smiling at you.

camille - we have loads of compassion - for the child, for the grandparents. I don't have compassion for a person that is so reckless with her child's life. And she paid dearly.

The Tracks are private property...the victims are trespassing.

Trains also don't veer out and pick people off. They have a clearly defined path- the tracks. The crossing had gates. Gates means flashing lights and maybe bells. It is called taking STUPID chances for a reason. It was a commuter train and not a slow moving 5 mile long freight. The wait would have been minimal.

WillGill,

Stupidest comment ever posted on any forum in the history of recorded communication.

So if you have train tracks in your town, you're never allowed to leave because you can't cross the tracks? Idiot.

Hey Rob:

Who do you think owns the tracks? There are "No Trespassing" signs all along the right-of-way to keep geniuses like you from getting dead, so cross at your own risk.

If for one second you think the train will stop for you because your in the gauge...I'll guarantee you it will be your last thought.

You should also learn to read and comprehend what you read. No where in any of my posts did I ever say "So if you have train tracks in your town, you're never allowed to leave because you can't cross the tracks".

If that's the case, then people have to cross tracks - it can't be avoided. I would like to give this woman the benefit of the doubt. I would have to assume that when she started crossing the tracks, the gates were up, there were no whistles or horns. As she crossed, the wheel of the stroller got stuck - and then the gates came down, etc. As a mom, at this point I'd be panicking - trying anything to get my baby out of there. Babies are generally strapped in to their strollers, around the waist and up the crotch. Getting a baby out of a stroller is never a smooth operation - their feet, clothes or blankets can get caught especially if the baby is squirming - so she may have figured it would be fastest to get the stroller moving.

Sharon Renee the local newspaper says SHE WAS TRYING TO BEAT THE TRAIN AND THE CROSSING ARMS WERE ALREADY DOWN.

And if she was not racing it, she would have plenty of time to try to get the stroller loose, and then remove the baby from it if she could not.

Sharon, pedestrian crossings could be built.

Most of the work could be done off site and the crossing set in place in a few pieces.

It would create alot of jobs as well.

PS The baby may have survived but has little chance of ever being "alright" after losing her/his mother.

Sharon, thanks for giving us the details on this intersection. This happens often enough around the country that it should serve as enough warning. What else are trains supposed to do?

Sqrly, the pedestrian overpasses you speak of have one flaw. People won't use them without being given no choice. It would require miles of fencing to force funnel people up and over. It would cut the neighborhood in two. They would rather cross at streeet level than take a lot of stairs or ramps.

Devil'son, if they make a passage under the train then people drown in their cars when it rains real bad, which has happened.

My father was a railroad engineer for over 40 years. The smartest thing he ever taught me was, "Don't ever try to beat the train, thinking you'll make it. The train always wins."

If 10 people get killed every year, as Sharon estimates, then obviously the city isn't doing enough to safeguard pedestrians along these tracks. How about building a few pedestrian bridges--or is saving 10 people a year from death not worth the cost?

obviously the city isn't doing enough to safeguard pedestrians along these tracks

Can they legislate smart?

you can only do so much to safe-guard the stupid from themselves, Dan. IF the woman was negligent in putting herself & her child in harms way... well GOOD, thats she's dead. Darwin Wins (Fatality!)... actually nobody wins, of course. I hope the rest of you are far less retarded when YOU travel with your minions into potential harm's way...

Sharon, thanks for the clarification. 10 deaths a year? You would think they would do something about that. The overpass pedistrian bridges may not completely solve the problem, but no doubt it would help.

How fast are these trains going through town? Most cities require trains to slow down through high density areas. The rules can be looser at night though (which is when this lady was hit, apparently).

Even a slow-moving train can take upwards of 2 or 3 miles to come to a stop.

The length it takes a train to stop is largely dependant on tonnage, speed and number or cars.

Take two trains, both traveling 60 MPH and having 12,000 trailing tons. One train is 50 cars (200 axles), the other 100 cars (400 axles). The train with 100 cars is much easier to control and will stop quicker because there are twice as many brakes.

A passengertrain traveling at 80 MPH should be able to stop fairly quickly once the air is dumped...not the preferred way of stopping a train however! When in doubt...blow 'em out!!!

Thank you. How refreshing.

What an obtuse situation she got herself into. Too bad she didn't have the acute sense to wait for the train to pass.

If you are correct God just got a retarded angel. I'm sure you meant angel and not angle.

There are angles all around

Sharron or 90 Degrees??

" I'm sure you meant angel and not angle." = The rare, intelligent reader.

"Sharron or 90 Degrees??" = The usual, expected moron.

A tragedy is not someone who decides it's a good idea to race a train across the tracks.

Hint: The train usually wins.

nfer, I agree with you. Good judgement or not, it is a tragedy.

I agree, Eliza. What the trolls on this thread are forgetting is that, regardless of whether this tragedy was caused by her own error in judgement, this woman (mother?) could have easily saved herself, but she had the supreme courage to stay long enough to save the (her?) baby even though it would cost her her life. It would be quite interesting if we had a way of testing to see what these smug juveniles behind their keyboards would do in the same situation.

Steel toed boot, you make a good point about her choice. I am one of those smug juveniles behind my keyboard that left a comment about this. I think sometimes it is us wanting to make people not do something like what she did, and one of my comments is I refuse to make a hero our of her. I still feel that way, but must admit your point. But the main reason she was there in the first place were because she took an inappropriate action that caused the situation.

I understand your point too, anon, and agree with you. I do not think YOU are a troll, just the ones making the rude and derisive comments.

Having read the whole story, it WAS her fault for trying to cross when the gates were down, lights flashing, bells ringing, and the train whistle blowing. She did cause her own predicament, and brought on her own fate. But I have to admire her sacrifice to save the baby. I would like to believe I would do that too, but I don't know for certain. Hopefully, I will never have the opportunity to find out!

That jumped out at me, too. Sheesh.

'And now she's, like, really really dead... omg.'

Classy.

She was NO hero! She was incredibly reckless with her child's safety. The grandmother will be the hero. What would you say if the child died too? That she was a hero?

Would you call someone who sets their house on fire and then rescues their child, a hero?

Hey Sky-Pilot..... Take a chill pill with the religious stuff. Have some class and just say a prayer for the poor family and baby.......

the bible says god love ALL Men not just the born again. Doc is right, say a prayer.

Sky...seriously. Get over yourself. That is your opinion and it has nothing to do with this article.

Agreed Doc, Ocie, ram~

Sky you do religious beliefs no favors when you spew your ugly hateful words. Relax, learn empathy and compassion, and say a prayer for yourself.

Sky perhaps you could ask God to make you the kind of person who would have given their life for that baby if you are ever having to face that choice. God bless ya anyways because he knows our frames.

I so AGREE WisconsinDad, empathy seems to be an emotion of the PAST.

A lot of comments on this blog are EXTREMELY judgemental. A human life was lost,it is TRAGIC !

Tragic, I agree. But a PREVENTABLE tragedy - and from fatal poor judgement.

I agree, Wisconsin.

oh hot dam ya sure got that right.

Or wait for the train to pass...

Nice Sky Pilot. That made my day.

Maybe both of you are unfeeling racist idiots Somebody dies and it makes your day, god help us...

Maybe you just need a sense of humor, Bill.

Except that the comment wasn't funny that would be a good suggestion. Maybe Sky needs a sense of empathy implanted.