School children traumatised after man dies December 05, 2002 - AAP WEST Australian school children were traumatised after seeing a man die in a train accident, police said. Sergeant Gary Sparks said the 29-year-old man was crossing railway tracks between two platforms when he was killed by an express train about 8am (WST) in the Perth suburb of Mosman Park. "He was taking a short cut, jumping off one platform to climb up another platform, Sergeant Sparks said. "There is a designated pedestrian crossing, but unfortunately he did not use it." He said children saw and heard the incident. "Unfortunately, the train had school children on board and they were privy to what happened," he said. "The children were fairly traumatised." WA Government Railways spokeswoman Jennifer Heron confirmed school children did see the incident and the man's body after he was crushed. She said their principal was contacted and WA Government Railways had offered counselling. "The offer was made there and then," she said. "If it's required, we'll be happy to provide it." Sergeant Sparks made an urgent plea for commuters to use pedestrian crossing and not take shortcuts. The train service was disrupted for more than two hours and the train driver received counselling soon after the collision. The dead man's name has not been released. Police said a coronial inquiry would be conducted.
You are so right, Pat. The unfortunate thing also is that many of these kids may never ride another train as long as they live.
Unfortunately rail incidents like this are far too common. Many incidents are the result of road users or pedestrians trying to short cut across rail lines or race across so that they do not need to sit at a crossing. One recent incident in Adelaide shows that many people just do not learn. A public bus full of school chiildren was caught in traffic and entered a level crossing. Unfortunately the traffic jammed the bus across the tracks in the path of the oncoming Indian Pacific (could have been the Ghan they both look the same these days) travelling at about 80km/hr. The bus driver attempted to reverse out of the way but other road users were locked in the traffic and either could not or did not move out of the way. The Locos hit the bus killing the driver one of the children and an onlooking pedestrian (may have been 2). Remember this is in a capital city. The news papers over the last few weeks have repeatedly shown motorists continueing to sit over the rail line on this crossing right next to the tributes that have been left for the victims. When interviewed one driver reported that he did this every day on his way to and from work, it would not happen to him and if he left room some one would push in and he would be delayed.
