Father and Son Killed by Freight Train
Conductor sounded a horn and tried to stop the train
By SCOTT WEBER
Updated 12:45 PM PST, Thu, Nov 5, 2009
A father and son walking next to railroad tracks were killed by a freight train in Fullerton and an investigation of the deaths was under way, a police sergeant said Thursday.
The deaths occurred late Wednesday near Balcom and Commonwealth avenues, said Sgt. Andrew Goodrich of the Fullerton Police Department. The initial call came in at 11:18.
Lena Kent, spokeswoman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, told the LA Times the conductor sounded a horn in an attempt to warn the men. He tried to stop the 7,200-foot train but was unable to. Traveling at 55 miles per hour, a freight train of that size takes around one mile to stop, she said.
The men were identified as Virgil Lamphier, 56, and his son, David, 23, of Fullerton, according to the LA Times.
It was not immediately clear why the men were walking next to the tracks. Fullerton police expected to release a statement later Thursday, Goodrich said.
Copyright City News Service / NBC Los Angeles
First Published: Nov 5, 2009 12:24 PM PST
You Might Like
You have 2000 characters left
