Two teens standing on the tracks were struck and killed Tuesday night by an Amtrak train near Woodland, Washington. The teens were standing on the northbound tracks as a freight train passed by on the southbound set of tracks. It is believed the teens couldn’t hear the approaching passenger train because of the sound of the freight train when the accident occurred.

A woman living near the tracks said she heard the train blowing a warning that was “blaring a lot longer and a lot more often.” She didn’t know it was a warning to get people off the track. The Amtrak was traveling between 75 and 79 mph when it hit the teens. Around 50 trains use the rail lines in that area every day.

The area where the two teens were hit is private property owned by the railroad and that pedestrians are forbidden from being on the tracks.

Trains hit and kill pedestrians more often than many think. Almost all of them are believed to have not been able to hear the train approaching for different reasons. However, if you believe the death of a loved one was the result of negligence on the part of the train operator or railroad company, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.