HOUSTON, TX – A man tragically lost his life after being struck by a train in Houston’s Fifth Ward before noon on Monday. The incident took place on the railways at the junction of Lyons Avenue and St. Elmo Street. According to local residents, such events were foreseeable, and they have been advocating for precautionary measures for years.
Eyewitnesses who were present at the accident site when rescue teams arrived shared their accounts of the horrifying occurrence. They noted how the train typically stayed stationary for several hours and the man who was hit tried to make his way across the track during that time.
Contrary to residents’ accounts, Union Pacific revealed that the train was stationary for less than four minutes on this occasion. Nevertheless, the locals contend that trains commonly halt on these tracks for extended periods.
Resident James Joseph expressed his distress towards the incident and his frustration with the authorities’ negligence. He stated that the tragic episode wasn’t a first-of-its-kind and that locals had persistently raised their concerns regarding the risk the train posed. They have unsuccessfully attempted to find a resolution despite numerous meetings involving the city and state officials.
State Representative Harold Dutton verified that a public meeting was convened about a month or two ago to discuss railway safety concerns. Councilwoman Leticia Plummer has confirmed that her office has been striving to tackle the issue surrounding the long stoppages of the train for years.