Rail Accidents Have Deep Impact on Community, Engineers, First Responders
WARSAW – This week is National Rail Safety Week, Sept. 22-28.
The city of Warsaw supports the campaign and encourages residents to reflect on their own habits and make changes to protect their lives and the safety of train engineers, said a news release.
Accidents that involve trains are catastrophic to communities when it comes to property damage, injury and delays in emergency response elsewhere. The Warsaw Police Department and Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, along with other first responders in the Warsaw community, are impacted by these accidents.
Trains possess a staggering combination of weight and power. The impact of a train to a motor vehicle is equivalent to a car or truck driving over an empty soda can. This impact can have devastating results.
While trains move slower through Warsaw, train accidents and fatalities frequently occur.
“These scenes are horrific for first responders and witnesses. They create memories that will live with those individuals for the rest of their lives,” said Detective Sergeant Brad Kellar of the Warsaw Police Department. Kellar has responded to many of these accidents throughout his career.
Train engineers feel the effects of accidents as well. Some engineers are so deeply impacted by these events that they are unable to return to work and instead change careers. They may face post-traumatic stress disorder as a result.
“By the time the train engineer sees you on the tracks, it’s too late. Engineers and conductors are often the forgotten victims in theses collisions as they cannot stop in time to avoid a collision,” said Jessica Feder, executive director of Indiana Operation Livesafer, the organization leading National Rail Safety Week.
First responders urge residents to not put their lives on the line to get somewhere more quickly. Never try to beat a train, no matter how much of a hurry you are in. The consequences of your actions that seem worth it at the moment may change someone’s life forever. Always be aware of the railroad tracks and help to keep both community members and railroad crews safe.