Railroads Won't Change Speeds, Schedules After Accident
Maureen Martin's Family Disappointed
POSTED: 7:42 a.m. MST December 27, 2002
UPDATED: 3:39 p.m. MST December 27, 2002
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. -- Two railroads will not alter train speeds or schedules through Castle Rock despite calls from the public for changes after a teenager was critically injured in a crash at a crossing.
Both Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway have said the changes would disrupt schedules throughout their systems.
Union Pacific said slower trains would block crossings longer, creating more problems without improving safety.
Several residents had asked the companies to consider the changes after Maureen Martin's car was broadsided by a train Nov. 12. The 16-year-old Douglas County High School student was in a coma for weeks, and was recently transferred to Craig Hospital in Englewood to undergo rehabilitation for a brain injury.
Martin was driving to school when her car stalled on the tracks in downtown Castle Rock and was struck by a Union Pacific coal train.
The impact pushed her car sideways into a concrete barrier and kept the vehicle spinning 86 feet up the tracks.
Her boyfriend, Vinny Veruchi, was following her in his pickup truck. He used his truck to try to ram her car off the tracks, but couldn't.
Residents in the area gathered at a City Council meeting after the accident saying that the crossing at Fifth and Front streets was dangerous.
Her father had said that something needs to be done because a lot of Douglas County High School students pass that railroad crossing to go to school.
Town and state officials and Union Pacific Railroad have said they installed the best safety-warning system available at the downtown intersection.
Castle Rock public works director Bob Watts said he wasn't surprised the railroad companies rejected changes sought by residents.
"I didn't hold out a whole lot of hope for major changes in their operations," he said Thursday. "The railroads are sympathetic, but they have a different agenda altogether and understandably so."
Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe officials said they would work with the town on an underpass or overpass for the crossing and closing one or more crossings. They also said they would help educate the public about railroad-crossing safety.
Watts said the town is proceeding with a proposal for a $7 million flyover to bypass the crossing. A flyover is a bridge over the tracks that would be used by cars to avoid the crossing.
David Martin, Maureen Martin's father, said he is disappointed the railroads rebuffed residents' ideas. As an alternative, he favors the flyover.
"I support anything that lets kids not have to go through that intersection," he said.
Both Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway have said the changes would disrupt schedules throughout their systems.
Union Pacific said slower trains would block crossings longer, creating more problems without improving safety.
Several residents had asked the companies to consider the changes after Maureen Martin's car was broadsided by a train Nov. 12. The 16-year-old Douglas County High School student was in a coma for weeks, and was recently transferred to Craig Hospital in Englewood to undergo rehabilitation for a brain injury.
Martin was driving to school when her car stalled on the tracks in downtown Castle Rock and was struck by a Union Pacific coal train.
The impact pushed her car sideways into a concrete barrier and kept the vehicle spinning 86 feet up the tracks.
Her boyfriend, Vinny Veruchi, was following her in his pickup truck. He used his truck to try to ram her car off the tracks, but couldn't.
Residents in the area gathered at a City Council meeting after the accident saying that the crossing at Fifth and Front streets was dangerous.
Her father had said that something needs to be done because a lot of Douglas County High School students pass that railroad crossing to go to school.
Town and state officials and Union Pacific Railroad have said they installed the best safety-warning system available at the downtown intersection.
Castle Rock public works director Bob Watts said he wasn't surprised the railroad companies rejected changes sought by residents.
"I didn't hold out a whole lot of hope for major changes in their operations," he said Thursday. "The railroads are sympathetic, but they have a different agenda altogether and understandably so."
Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe officials said they would work with the town on an underpass or overpass for the crossing and closing one or more crossings. They also said they would help educate the public about railroad-crossing safety.
Watts said the town is proceeding with a proposal for a $7 million flyover to bypass the crossing. A flyover is a bridge over the tracks that would be used by cars to avoid the crossing.
David Martin, Maureen Martin's father, said he is disappointed the railroads rebuffed residents' ideas. As an alternative, he favors the flyover.
"I support anything that lets kids not have to go through that intersection," he said.
Previous Stories:
- December 16, 2002: Girl Hit By Train Improving
- November 25, 2002: Condition Of Cheerleader Hit By Train Worsens
- November 18, 2002: Train Victim's Parents Plea For Change To Railroad Crossing
- November 13, 2002: Boyfriend Of Train Victim Called Hero
- November 12, 2002: Teen Critical After Train Rams Car
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
