What Happened
An 8-year-old boy died after being struck by a train at a rail crossing in East Chicago, Illinois (IL). According to East Chicago police, a few children were waiting for the eastbound train to pass when one child was hit by a westbound train on another track. The boy was proclaimed dead from blunt force trauma.
The railroad crossing accident occurred at Magoun and Lewis Place in East Chicago. Detective Rivera said that the signs at the crossing were working correctly, but the children were standing too close. The Times state that this is not the first accident on these railroad tracks. There have been at least two other people killed while on or near the railroad tracks in Lake County.
From the Personal Injury Lawyers’ Perspective
As experienced Railroad Accident Attorneys have represented many pedestrians, motorists, and crew members involved in railroad accidents. We have successfully investigated wrongful deaths at rail crossings. Pedestrians struck by trains are always almost fatal even if the conductor sees the pedestrian because of the amount of time trains take to stop. Since this is not the first accident in this area the city may want to look into new technology to warn and keep pedestrians at a safe distance while the trains pass at railroad crossings.
Helpful Info:
If you or a family member has been hurt in a train crash and you believe the railroad was at fault, you can begin to learn about your legal rights and options by downloading this free report.
Have Questions?
My personal injury and wrongful death law firm colleagues and I maintain an extensive library of attorneys’ answers to frequently asked questions about railroad accidents.
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