Darwin Award for Situational Awareness

[Hallucinator]

Man Texting While Driving Hits Train
By Associated Press

EUGENE, Ore. - When Robert Gillespie looked up from his text message, he saw a freight train. EOM. ("End of message," that is, for non-texters.) Eugene police say Gillespie's car crashed into the side of the Union Pacific freight train about 2 a.m. Tuesday.

When officers arrived, they found him alert and talking, but trapped in the car. They learned about the cell phone and text message as they worked to rescue him.

Gillespie, who had turned 38 the day before, was charged with drunken driving and careless driving, police spokeswoman Kerry Delf said. His injuries were described as not life threatening, and no members of the train crew were hurt.

Delf said officers believe he was driving faster than the 35 mph speed limit as well as using his cell phone to send a text message. She said he tried to brake for the train, but it was too close.

"There are all kinds of ways to get distracted these days," said police spokeswoman Kerry Delf. "We don't recommend any of them while you're driving."

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All righ

 

[lockedcj7]

To win a Darwin award, you have to be killed or neuter yourself, thus removing yourself from the gene pool. I'd nominate him for an honorable mention though.

 

[Don H]

It is truly amazing how many people manage to drive into the side of a mile-long train because they didn't see it.

 

[TRiCoN45]

^ HAAHAHAAHAAH what he said

 

[Justme]

So, a drunk had a car wreck, in other news the pope is catholic, smoking is bad for your health and bears sometimes **** in the woods.

 

[Hallucinator]

polar bears make little yellow circles on the ice

 

[GalilARM]

Haha damn if I hit a train I think I would say I passed out or something, thats at least better than admitting you were on your phone! What a moron. I guess he was drunk though so anything goes....

 

[Don H]

It's also absolutely amazing how many people drive down the railroad track thinking it's a road. Situational awareness is a foreign concept to many people.

 

[Night Watch]

So, ahh ... when are they going to solve this problem and make the world a safer place in which to live by making cell phone buttons larger?

Except for the alcohol, this accident should have been entirely avoidable. Congress should pass a law!

 

[Capt. Charlie]

And this relates to defensive tactics and training... how?

Answer: It doesn't.

Sorry Hal, way off topic.

Closed.