Of all the match-ups involving a pedestrian and motor vehicle, collisions where the motor vehicle is a train are arguably the worst. The size, speed and difficulty a train has stopping all contribute to this. Another major factor is the lack of protection the typical pedestrian usually has when hit.
A train accident involving a pedestrian that occurred in the Pittsburgh area earlier this month illustrates this. The man was reportedly hit in the evening by a Norfolk Southern train that was travelling on railroad tracks between River Road and Riverside Park, about 1,000 feet from the park.
The train that hit the man was pulling 21 freight cars that were loaded, with the assistance of three engines.
There are many details of the accident that are unknown at this point. These include why the man was on the railroad tracks and how fast the train was travelling when it ran into him. According to a representative from Norfolk Southern, the speed limit for that particular stretch of track is 60 m.p.h.
Hopefully these answers will be uncovered in the investigation that is currently being conducted. As a part of that investigation an autopsy was going to be conducted by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner.
While it is premature to speculate on the matter, depending on what the investigation uncovers, a wrongful death lawsuit may be filed against the railroad or other entities. This would be likely if it is deemed possible that their negligence was the cause of the man's death. Should a lawsuit be filed we will follow-up on the story and provide and update.
Source: Beaver County Times, "Pedestrian killed by train in Glenfield," April 11, 2012