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Staff Reports

CORONA– On Jan. 22 at about 1:55 p.m., Corona Police Officers responded to a train versus pedestrian collision in the 100 block of North McKinley Avenue. Through investigation, officers determined that 19-year-old Anthony McRea of Riverside was walking northbound on McKinley with his girlfriend. As they approached the railroad tracks just south of Sampson, they stopped for an eastbound train travelling on the north set of tracks. The crossing arms were down, lights flashing, and alarms sounding.

As the end of the train passed, McRea stepped out in front of a train travelling westbound on the south set of tracks. The train struck McRea, killing him instantly.

According to the Delaware Undergraduate Student Congress and the CSX Corporation, more people are killed in pedestrian/train accidents than airplane crashes in the United States each year. Here are some tips for staying safe around railroad tracks:

• Remember, trains may be closer than they appear. It is very difficult to accurately judge the distance and speed of an oncoming train.
• Trains are wider than they appear; most trains extend three feet on either side of the track.
• The force of a train hitting a car is comparable to the force of a car running over a soda can.
• Most trains will not be able to stop if something is in their way, so remember to never cross the guardrails. They are there for your safety.