An 11 year-old boy was hit and killed by a train at a railroad crossing in Lapeer County, Michigan at about 7:00 A.M. Thursday morning. Witnesses say that the boy was trying to beat the train across the track when he was struck.
The boy, Tomas Rodriguez, was on his way to school at the time of the railroad crossing pedestrian and train accident. He was walking behind a 12 year-old friend, Antonio Martinez. The crossing gate was down, the warning lights were flashing and the bells were ringing when Martinez crossed the railroad tracks. Rodriguez followed and was hit by an Amtrak passenger train before he was able to make it across the railroad tracks.
“When I looked back I didn’t really see him. I was looking around to see if he went the other way,” Martinez told a reporter. Unbeknownst to Martinez, Rodriguez already had been killed. Rodriguez’s father arrived at the railroad crossing shortly after the accident.
The tragic death of the middle school student has been a shock to the community. A crisis response team was sent to Rodriguez’s school to help grieving students cope with the heartbreaking death of their classmate. In addition, a Facebook page has been set up for family and friends to share their thoughts, prayers and memories of Tomas: R.I.P. Tomas Rodriguez Page.
The deadly train accident is under investigation. Railroad employes say that all warning and safety devices were working properly at the time of the accident.
Railroad safety experts urge people to be careful and never try to beat the train when the crossing gates are down.
If you have suffered an injury or the death of a loved one in a preventable railroad crossing accident, you may have a right to file a train accident lawsuit to collect money damages. You need a an aggressive, experienced railroad lawyer to help you and you family find out the real cause of the pedestrian and train accidentand hold the railroad legally responsible for the personal injury or wrongful death damages you have been caused to suffer. There is never an attorney fee or cost to you unless and until we win financial compensation for you on your railroad crossing lawsuit case. Laws called statutes of limitations set time limits for filing a claim. Contact us today for a free no-obligation consultation with a top national pedestrian and train railroad crossing accident attorney.
