Train gates were down when media critic Eric Boehlert was struck, killed, NJ Transit says

[NJCher]

This accident happened only a few blocks from where I used to live. I go back to the neighborhood often--I moved only a short distance away-- and next time I am there, am going to look again at this crossing. I just can't imagine Eric crossing in front of an ongoing train when the gates were down and lights flashing. It makes no sense; no sense at all.

snip

Investigators said Monday the safety equipment at the Montclair train station where media critic Eric Boehlert was struck and killed while riding his bicycle was operating normally at the time of the crash.

Boehlert, 56, died after he was struck about 9:40 p.m. April 4, by a train on the Montclair-Boonton line near the Montclair station, authorities said.

Boehlert was riding his bike over the tracks at North Fullerton Avenue when he was hit by a train headed for Hackettstown in Warren County, according to NJ Transit.

“The investigation indicated that safety mechanisms were working as intended at North Fullerton,” said Jim Smith, spokesman for NJ Transit. Smith confirmed the gates were down and lights were flashing at the time of the crash.

snip

more at link, mostly about his career and family in Montclair, NJ.

https://www.nj.com/essex/2022/04/train-gates-were-down-when-media-critic-eric-boehlert-was-struck-killed-nj-transit-says.html

[madaboutharry]

1. This information will lead to all kinds of speculation.

May he Rest In Peace.

[mopinko]

4. yup

not without reason. happens here in chi on the regular.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. Everyone who crosses against the gates thinks they can beat the train.

Some are right. Some aren't.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Any video from the train's perspective, or testimony from the engineer?

Is it well-lit at night?

[NJCher]

8. don't know

but I'll pay attention to that when I am there.

[USALiberal]

5. It seems like the train should have a front face camera recording?

[brooklynite]

12. Most trains don't

[USALiberal]

13. Thanks!!

[BlackSkimmer]

6. Thought he could beat the train.

I saw it this very morning on my way to the park. Gates were down, lights flashing.

I could see the train, which seemed to be moving very slowly. A guy in a car went around the gates, and another guy on a bike dodged across.

I just shook my head, turned around and headed to the other entrance of the park.

[Spider Jerusalem]

7. Possibly thought he could beat the train and lost traction going over the wet rails and fell

that's entirely plausible, especially when one considers how very narrow the contact patch between the tire and the road surface actually is, especially on road bike tires pumped up to 120psi; if he was going between the barriers, he may have been at something of a diagonal relative to the rails,which likely increases the likelihood of such an accident; anyone who cycles knows how easy it is to have a nasty accident if you go over painted lines in the road in wet conditions, and I expect what happened here was likely something very similar. It's unfortunate, but speaking from my experience as someone who averages between twenty and fifty miles of cycling a week, weather and season dependent, it doesn't seem to be at all unlikely, unfortunately.

[Blues Heron]

9. It does say he was riding his bike when he was hit - nothing about wiping out first

[bucolic_frolic]

10. Many runners and cyclists use ear buds for music

Maybe just distracted

[Talitha]

21. Very good point!

[relayerbob]

19. I had a nasty crash once, crossing railroad tracks

on a bike. Hit the rails at an angle, not even a particularly high one, the wheel turned and slipped in, the bike stopped dead and I went flying. Fortunately, there was no train anywhere nearby, but I gained a healthy respect for train tracks while bije riding that day.

[TreasonousBastard]

11. Goggling around, I see that over 500 people a year are killed...

playing around with trains. Not all of them at crossings, but a lot of them.

I also found that there's 20 to 30 seconds between the time the lights flash and the train is there. For commuter trains, I've noticed a longer wait if there's a station close to the crossing.

So, it's not at all rare for crossing accidents to happen and it's entirely possible for someone in a hurry to run or bicycle across the tracks, in reasonable safety, when the lights start.

Not that it's recommended, but it happens

[BlackSkimmer]

15. I just posted on another thread that I saw two people go around gates today.

That train always seems to be moving very slowly, and people do this all the time. I hate seeing it.

I just turn around and go a different way.

[TreasonousBastard]

18. You're right-- perspectives, optics and such always make...

objects look slower the farther away they are.

[BlackSkimmer]

20. Yes, this one seems to be a real turtle, and he often stops on the tracks or just before.

I have no interest in second guessing him. Ever.

[Ocelot II]

14. Sadly, these accidents are too common

because people underestimate the speed of the train and think they can beat it across the tracks. My dad was an attorney for a railroad, and for awhile he handled grade crossing accidents. Unless the signals or crossing gates had failed, these accidents were almost always the crosser's fault because they - usually driving a car but occasionally a pedestrian - thought they could make it across the tracks ahead of the train. People misjudge trains' speed because of their size, and they also don't realize that even if the engineer sees you from a considerable distance he will not be able to stop the train in time - the combination of mass and speed prevents it.

Needless to say, we kids were told in no uncertain terms to stay away from train tracks and never, ever try to cross if the signal was on or the gate was down. The only spanking I remember was the result of the time when I climbed up the railroad embankment not far from our house to check out the train tracks.

[Hoyt]

16. When I as big into cycling, had a train crossing within 75 yards of my house.

Often beat the train because the wait could be 20 minutes.

But never tried it when the train was so close I couldn’t crawl/roll out of the way if necessary.

RIP. No one will ever know why he tried it.

[global1]

17. Was He Hit Straight On By The Train Or Was It A Glancing Hit From The....

side of the train?

Usually at RR crossings they have a camera hooked up or there is a camera on the engine of the train.

Were there any witnesses to the accident?