I am writing in response to the Nov. 30 article “How safe are the tracks you walk on?” After I had finished reading this article, I was dumbfounded at all the propositions being made in wake of the recent accident involving Ryan West.
The article starts out with a recap of the very vague circumstances of the accident and then moves on to why we need to have new safety installments around the tracks and why the cost should be pinned on Union Pacific Railroad Co. First let me state my own theory of how the accident happened since Ryan West has no recollection of how the accident happened.
I think Ryan West was drunk off his ass, passed out on the tracks, and then a train ran over his leg. But my point is not on my theory of the accident. My point is that with all the recent publicity of the accident, it seems to me that the Union Pacific Railroad Co. seems to be the one to blame instead of the person lying on the tracks.
The article points out that the City Council wants to build a fence or some sort of barrier but Union Pacific doesn’t want to pay for it. Ryan West said “.it would help if they fenced off the tracks or built a pedestrian bridge.” I’m sorry but I think a barrier is completely unnecessary. Why you ask? Well because it’s a f–ing train; trains are loud and highly visible. They have one path so you shouldn’t cross it when they are moving in your direction!
Besides, there’s going to be a hole cut in a new fence within days. I think pedestrian vs. train accidents are examples of natural selection at its finest.
Michael Macedo
Bioresource and agricultural engineering junior