Deadly Amtrak Accident in Philadelphia

[Ultimate Paragon]

http://news.yahoo.com/amtrak-train-derails-killing-5-people-investigation-begins-073410531--finance.html

See, this is why our infrastructure needs to be fixed.

[rookie]

Something really sad about that is there's no passenger manifest. They know of about 250 people who bought tickets for this DC - NYC commuter train. But really, there's no way to account for everyone on the train.

[mythbuster43]

http://news.yahoo.com/amtrak-train-derails-killing-5-people-investigation-begins-073410531--finance.html

See, this is why our infrastructure needs to be fixed.

The right-wingers are already yelling at people who are saying that this is why infrastructure needs to be fixed. Clearly, it is the fault of gay people since the engineer was gay.

...

I'm not kidding. Right-wingers actually believe this.

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/anti-gay-pundit-homosexuality-factor-amtrak-crash

[mellenORL]

What? They think he was doing poppers and blowing the throttle lever, or riding on it? I won't even read that wharrgarble.

Anyway, I've read a couple reports mentioning the windscreen showed clear evidence it was damaged prior to the crash, having a circular hole in the lower left corner, with circular crack pattern radiation, like when a rock or bullet hits that type of windscreen.  And that quite a few projectile impacts had been reported by other train engineers in the area recently. And the engineer in the crash was reported to have been found unconscious with a head concussion and significant head wound requiring quite a few stitches. And that he reported a windscreen impact on the radio prior to the crash. He may have passed out within moments of his radio report (which he does not remember yet) after an impact to his head.

[ironbite]

So essentially someone knocked him out and he leaned on the throttle going into this curve only to wake up enough to pull back to 101?

Ironbite-hope the evidence supports this.

[Art Vandelay]

What? They think he was doing poppers and blowing the throttle lever, or riding on it? I won't even read that wharrgarble.

Anyway, I've read a couple reports mentioning the windscreen showed clear evidence it was damaged prior to the crash, having a circular hole in the lower left corner, with circular crack pattern radiation, like when a rock or bullet hits that type of windscreen.  And that quite a few projectile impacts had been reported by other train engineers in the area recently. And the engineer in the crash was reported to have been found unconscious with a head concussion and significant head wound requiring quite a few stitches. And that he reported a windscreen impact on the radio prior to the crash. He may have passed out within moments of his radio report (which he does not remember yet) after an impact to his head.

The implication being that some fuckheads in that area are throwing rocks or even shooting at passing trains? Am I reading that right?

[Askold]

The implication being that some fuckheads in that area are throwing rocks or even shooting at passing trains? Am I reading that right?

Either that or there is some loose debris that keeps hitting the trains.

Considering that people throw rocks at cars from bridges I have no trouble believing that there are morons who would do the same to trains. Either they don't realize how many lives they are putting at risk with what they believe to be childish pranks ...or they do realize it and do this for that exact reason.

[Art Vandelay]

Considering that people throw rocks at cars from bridges I have no trouble believing that there are morons who would do the same to trains. Either they don't realize how many lives they are putting at risk with what they believe to be childish pranks ...or they do realize it and do this for that exact reason.

It's the possibility that they may actually be shooting at trains purely for the fun of it that's a tad unsettling. Damn America, you scary.

[Askold]

Considering that people throw rocks at cars from bridges I have no trouble believing that there are morons who would do the same to trains. Either they don't realize how many lives they are putting at risk with what they believe to be childish pranks ...or they do realize it and do this for that exact reason.

It's the possibility that they may actually be shooting at trains purely for the fun of it that's a tad unsettling. Damn America, you scary.

Which of these three scenarios is the scariest:

a) People shoot at trains OR throw heavy objects at trains because they think it is "harmless" fun that only damages the vehicles and don't realize the lives they endanger.
b) They do the thing DESPITE knowing the dangers but they just don't care.
c) They aim to kill people and cause disasters like this.

[Art Vandelay]

Considering that people throw rocks at cars from bridges I have no trouble believing that there are morons who would do the same to trains. Either they don't realize how many lives they are putting at risk with what they believe to be childish pranks ...or they do realize it and do this for that exact reason.

It's the possibility that they may actually be shooting at trains purely for the fun of it that's a tad unsettling. Damn America, you scary.

Which of these three scenarios is the scariest:

a) People shoot at trains OR throw heavy objects at trains because they think it is "harmless" fun that only damages the vehicles and don't realize the lives they endanger.
b) They do the thing DESPITE knowing the dangers but they just don't care.
c) They aim to kill people and cause disasters like this.

Either way, the end result is the same. Especially if they're using guns rather than rocks. Though if I had to pick, I'd go with a), simply because stupidity is so much more common than that kind of malice.

[Sleepy]

Investigators are saying it was not a gunshot that hit the window of the train, but something much larger instead.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/amtrak-crash-investigator-skeptical-train-came-under-fire/