Kent, Washington – Pedestrian Killed After Getting Struck by Train

Kent, Washington (July 23, 2019) – A man was killed after getting struck by a train on the tracks near the intersection of 1st Avenue South and West Willis Street on early Tuesday morning. The victim has yet to be identified by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. While Kent Police has done investigation on the scene, the reason as to why the man was on the tracks in the first place has not been determined.

The victim was hit  by a train going to Portland from Seattle. The accident caused commuter trains to be delayed, and Sound Transit sent buses to stations in Tukwila, Auburn and Puyallup to assist the riders. The accident also caused West Willis Street between First Avenue South and Railroad Avenue South to be closed.

About Train Accidents

We offer our sympathies and compassion for the friends and loved ones of the victim. While train accidents can be deadly, they are among the safest forms of transportation, with a fatality rate much lower than car or motorcycle accidents. Derailments, which can lead to many train-related accidents, are said to be common but are most likely harmless, with trains only causing damage or injuries if the derailment causes the train to crash into a structure or another train. However, while riding the train is relatively safe, a collision with one is likely to be deadly. This is because trains can weigh over millions of pounds. According to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, the average freight train consisting of 100 cars can weigh from 12 million to twenty million pounds – this weight combined with the speed of a train can cause great impact. Additionally, this weight also delays the effect of an emergency brake, which may need distance of over a mile to fully halt a train. Because of this, it is important to always remain alert near railroads.

While trains have many safety features, it is everyone’s responsibility to be safe around tracks. Keeping in mind that trains cannot swerve nor quickly stop, so pedestrians and drivers alike must take care to keep off tracks when a rain is approaching. Never underestimate the speed of an oncoming train, which may look like it’s approaching slowly due to optical illusions. Lastly, one must always watch out for the presence of a second train. By keeping alert and following regulations, we can help avoid train accidents from happening.

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