My Nominee for the Darwin award

[Sitarro]

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE? What is with the adult pacifier addiction to the cell phone? I hate to talk on the phone, why do so many feel a need to be on it constantly...... even when they aren't talking on them they stare at them like zombies. Most people I encounter are useless idiots.



Man talking on cell phone killed by train in San Leandro
Steve Rubenstein, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, December 6, 2007


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl.../BA3NTOVO7.DTL

(12-05) 17:02 PST SAN LEANDRO - A pedestrian apparently absorbed in a cell phone call was struck and killed by an Amtrak train in San Leandro today after he walked around a lowered crossing gate and onto the tracks, authorities said.
The victim, a man who was not immediately identified, was struck at 12:30 p.m. by a northbound Capitol Corridor train at the Alvarado Street crossing, about 8 miles south of the Oakland station, Amtrak spokeswoman Vernae Graham said.
None of the 20 passengers or crew aboard the train was injured. That train and two others were delayed and another Capitol Corridor train was cancelled, Graham said.
Crew members aboard the Sacramento-bound train told authorities they saw the victim talking on the cell phone before he was struck, Graham said. The warning lights and gates at the crossing were functioning properly, she added.

[Mr. P]

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE? What is with the adult pacifier addiction to the cell phone? I hate to talk on the phone, why do so many feel a need to be on it constantly...... even when they aren't talking on them they stare at them like zombies. Most people I encounter are useless idiots.



Man talking on cell phone killed by train in San Leandro
Steve Rubenstein, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, December 6, 2007


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl.../BA3NTOVO7.DTL

(12-05) 17:02 PST SAN LEANDRO - A pedestrian apparently absorbed in a cell phone call was struck and killed by an Amtrak train in San Leandro today after he walked around a lowered crossing gate and onto the tracks, authorities said.
The victim, a man who was not immediately identified, was struck at 12:30 p.m. by a northbound Capitol Corridor train at the Alvarado Street crossing, about 8 miles south of the Oakland station, Amtrak spokeswoman Vernae Graham said.
None of the 20 passengers or crew aboard the train was injured. That train and two others were delayed and another Capitol Corridor train was cancelled, Graham said.
Crew members aboard the Sacramento-bound train told authorities they saw the victim talking on the cell phone before he was struck, Graham said. The warning lights and gates at the crossing were functioning properly, she added.

Phone at ear, brain shuts down...good example of why I think cell phone use in a car by the driver should be illegal.

[hjmick]

Here's mine:

Road rage ends in driver dead
Hesperia man stops in slow lane, punches other driver
RACHEL BYRD
December 5, 2007 - 9:48AM

VICTORVILLE— A case of road rage ended with the death of a Hesperia man around 1 a.m. Wednesday on Interstate 15 near Stoddard Wells Road.

The California Highway Patrol received two calls shortly before 1 a.m. that a minivan traveling north on I-15 was recklessly cutting off other vehicles.

Witnesses observed the minivan tail a Toyota Corolla while going about 80 mph. The driver of the Corolla moved to the right and stopped on the right shoulder, and later told officials that he thought the driver of the van was a police officer.

The minivan driver, Kyle Gavin Barry, 24, stopped in the slow lane alongside the Corolla, got out of the van and approached the driver, claiming to be an FBI agent.

When the driver of the Corolla asked to see Barry’s identification, Barry punched the driver in the nose, breaking his glasses.

The driver of the Corolla drove away and called police. Officials believe that as Barry got back in his van and was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer going about 55 mph.
Barry was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The truck driver Peter Aguirre Jr., 46, of Victorville was unable to avoid the accident because Barry had stopped, blocking the lane, said CHP Officer Melanie Weaver.

Aguirre was not injured.

Barry and the Corolla driver did not know each other, Weaver said.

Authorities are still investigating Barry’s erratic driving before the collision and the assault, and they are not releasing the name of the Corolla driver, Weaver said.

There are no charges filed against Aguirre at this time.

Road rage ends in driver dead

[Abbey Marie]

Wanna bet the family of cell phone guy sues, even though the lights and other warnings were working?

[Hagbard Celine]

Wanna bet the family of cell phone guy sues, even though the lights and other warnings were working?

Nah, they'd be thrown out of court. There's no basis for a case. Most lawyers would tell them the same I think.

[Immanuel]

Nah, they'd be thrown out of court. There's no basis for a case. Most lawyers would tell them the same I think.

No way, they probably already have "ambulance chasers" at their doors telling them to sue, sue, sue. Chances are good that Amtrak (well, most likely their insurance carrier) will settle out of court and this family will be well off for a long, long time. Not only that but the "ambulance chasers" will be telling them to sue the maker of the cell phone as well.

Sorry, Avatar, I realize that this is your chosen profession. Just note, not all attorneys are like that. I have worked for some really good ones.

Immie

[Mr. P]

Nah, they'd be thrown out of court. There's no basis for a case. Most lawyers would tell them the same I think.

My suit claims the crossing guards/gates did not prevent a pedestrian from walking onto the tracks...and therefor the rail company IS NEGLIGENT.

I'll win too or at least settle.

[Abbey Marie]

Nah, they'd be thrown out of court. There's no basis for a case. Most lawyers would tell them the same I think.

Suing, and proceeding with the case are two different things. One can sue on just about any basis; how much good it does you is another question. Btw, very few things are "thrown out of court" up front. I wish they were.

[darin]

Instead of crossing gates, the Train company/owners of the rail, should have large bird cages which drop from the sky to "protect" anyone near a running train.

[Yurt]

Wanna bet the family of cell phone guy sues, even though the lights and other warnings were working?

I'll play plaintiff's lawyer:

the old, traditional, type of warnings are simply not adequate in today's world. They may have worked 30, 40 or 50 years ago, but they simply are not enough in today's complex, technologically advance society.

A simple solution, that would have cost the rail companies minimal expense, would have been to install cell tower warnings at each crossing..........


I'll take my spanking now

[Mr. P]

I'll play plaintiff's lawyer:

the old, traditional, type of warnings are simply not adequate in today's world. They may have worked 30, 40 or 50 years ago, but they simply are not enough in today's complex, technologically advance society.

A simple solution, that would have cost the rail companies minimal expense, would have been to install cell tower warnings at each crossing..........


I'll take my spanking now

Get away from my case you low life! I already said they were negligent!