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Teenager killed by a train while taking his senior photos

by 40 Comments

A 17-year-old boy was killed by a train in Troutdale, Oregon on Saturday evening. According to multiple reports, the tragedy happened while he was taking his senior photos near the Troutdale Bridge.

Oregon Live reports that the teenager was hit by a Union Pacific train. Just before 6 p.m. on Saturday, Multnomah County Sheriff deputies responded to a call, according to a statement. Unfortunately, they reportedly found the boy dead at the scene. In their statement, Union pacific states that the train crew was not hurt.

According to KATU2, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Vehicle Crash Team has started an investigation to find out what led to the incident. The student’s name has not been disclosed. “Our thoughts are with the teen’s family and friends. We plead with parents, students and photographers to not take photos on or near the tracks,” Union Pacific said in the statement.

Unfortunately, we have seen other cases of people getting killed by a train while taking photos on train tracks. This video by TODAY shows that you most likely won’t hear the train coming until it’s too late. Therefore, no matter if you’re a photographer or you want to have your photos taken, please stay out of the train tracks.

[via Oregon Live, KATU2; Photo by Josh Nezon on Unsplash]

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  • Darwin

    • Alexandre Ayoubi but it certainly isn’t funny, and even worse If a “professional photographer” put him in that position.

    • Victoria McHugh Who said it was funny. Darwin awards only refers to someone dying from stupidity and not having reproduced. Hence spiking up a tad the overall IQ of the population.

    • Chris

      In my opinion the Darwin thing mostly applies to smug fools who think only others make fatal mistakes. Heads up ‘cos you might be next. Maybe you’ll trip over your inflated ego and smack your big head!

  • Not being a jerk but how can you not hear a train coming ? I have been around railroad tracks for many years some close by and others off at a distance still I could hear a train coming. So sorry he lost his life and praying for his family and friends.

    • Well, if a trains is twelve seconds from where you are and it travels at a sixth of the speed of sound, it will take the sound two seconds to reach you and then ten seconds until the train hits you. If that sounds insane, well the distance to that train is almost 700 meters (0.42 miles) away and travels at a speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). If the trains travels at 100 km/h, it will take the train 22 seconds before it hit you after you first hear it. It ain’t much of margin to actually escape the tracks, especially if you are close to a bridge.
      And if there are a curve, forest or anything else surrounding the tracks, it gets harder to actually hear the train.

      In Europe where we have electrical trains, the sound will also travel through the lines and you will be able to hear those long time before the train reach the point where you are and now we aren’t talking about seconds, we are talking about minutes.

      But if you’re not listening for sounds or are in a noisy environment, it won’t matter. You will be hit by it anyway.

    • Michael Estwik makes sense.

  • It’s illegal.

  • What are senior photos?

    • Probably photos for senior high school.

    • Senior year is the final year of high school (12th grade) here in the USA. It’s traditional to take pictures for keepsake before you graduate, usually parents will hire a pro to take the shots.

    • Kiumarz Hashemi cheers for that.

    • Kiumarz Hashemi Or the school tells you where to go (like mine did).

  • I remember when Jim Parks (BAA) nearly got knocked down by a racing car. He was using a big Mamiyaflex reflex camera and forgot that the viewfinder image was left-right inverted. Stepped out in front of the car just as it was approaching. The camera was a write-off and Jim came back very shaken.

  • I was banned from one FB photo group for repeatedly pointing out that those kind of photography is not just dangrous but ilegal.

  • That self same interlugde went through my mind as I read this… and Ive seen the same at cycling events…

  • Whst is a 17yr old senior…is this a typo? should it be 70yr old.as in senior?

    • Senior high school I would guess.

    • Michael Estwik and this is a photographic genre? Amazing.

    • In some places seniors means a person about to graduate from high school. In Canada we call them grads.

    • blokeinusa

      Why can’t a 17yr old be a senior?

    • The kid went to have his senior photos (you know 12th grade) taken on the train tracks. I was 17 when I had mine taken (at Varden studios). Did your generation not have senior portraits? My mom graduated in 1954 and had her senior portrait done but only in a studio format.

      • Zach McDuffie

        The senior portraits done at studios are often generic and bland. Typical portrait studios of that caliber just don’t cut it for those looking for a more fun, unique look. Very often, they llack creativity and often follow a boring format. Doesn’t give an excuse to put someone’s or your own life at risk though.

    • In tbe UK the idea of senior portraits is simply not on the radar. Perhaps a class photo taken during the last year at school but nothing with any tradition attached. We dont graduate from school we simply leave..in the UK we graduate as university students.

  • There are also areas of track in municipal parks /historic areas that have train and track displays that can be safely used.

  • Train track portraits….Original.

  • Maybe it’s time people started sharing POI (point of impact) shots to educate the moronic masses?

  • It’s called Darwinism

  • I really get annoyed by this sentiment, like merely touching railroad tracks is a threat to your life. “No don’t even go NEAR them you will die 100%!!!!”

    How about you pay attention to your surroundings, and if you hear a train coming, you think “HHMM, maybe I should get away from the tracks and wait until the train passes.” Its no different from being in any other busy, potentially hazardous area. Just use basic observation skills and don’t be a moron and you should be fine.

    • Frank C.

      Trains can be misleading. One track can have trains going both ways within a short period of time, so unlike vehicular roads where there is an assigned direction, train tracks are more like a narrow one-lane country road with occasional areas (sidings) where trains can bypass each other. The type of traffic changes too. You might have a slow local freight train chugging along at 20 mph and then have a 65 mph commuter train. Some are noisy, some are much quieter. Not only is the risk of being hit not worth it, it’s also trespassing which will lead to a hefty fine. On top of it all, it’s not the cleanest place to stand. Creosote-soaked ties that lie under the rail, as well as God knows what leaked out of the cars that travelled on it, which carry everything from grain to super hazmat goods. There are other places to get those leading lines other than a railway. Just not worth it in my mind. I’d rather get a selfie with a great white shark.

    • pincherio

      Don’t be a moron. Stay away from active train tracks.

    • Chris

      Fantastic!! You could write a book “How to Play on the Train Tracks for Dummies”

  • I guess I am bitter to see “laughing “ emojis from people! Yes, this was careless on all parties sake, but, laughter is a bit harsh!

  • Better start a camera and train buyback program.

  • Robert Stekeur

    It’s tragic, but how the hell do you get hit by a train unless you can’t hear. I lived close to train tracks and a incoming train is hard to not notice.

  • John Beatty

    Oh, ya…pure Darwinism at work here folks. Next.

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