Sad. I feel very bad for the train crew. They were innocent bystanders, dragged into whatever happened to that kid.
Sounds like a clear cut case of suicide by train. If it was, a totally selfish act. He has not only destroyed his family but has damaged the poor crew of the train emotionally.
The autopsy report should answer questions about why he was lying there or if he was dead prior to being hit, and all the circumstances and events leading up to this. As in all accidents or other incidents of this type, the first media reports are always suspect. I commend the restraint of the article relating the incident - they didn't go into far-out speculation, just the facts.
This recently happened on CSX lines outside of Gettysburg. The crew saw the man lie down between the rails as they approached. They blew horn, applied brakes and found the victim under the 17th car, he survived though. We haven't heard anything else about it though
That partly answers a question I have always wondered about, whether pr not there is clearance under a train to survive if there is no way to get out of the way.
There is a tiny space under the pilot plow, but I would not count on that for saving my life. One underneath there is more space. Better to not be in such a situation.
