OAK PARK, Ill. — Fire officials in Oak Park report two people were injured, one critically, when they came into contact with the electrified third rail at a Chicago Transit Authority station on Saturday.
WGN-TV reports paramedics were called to the Ridgeland Green Line station about 7:24 p.m. after two people, part of a group preparing to travel downtown to the Lollapalooza music festival, reportedly jumped onto the station tracks to take a photo. A male subject touched the third rail; it is believed the second person injured, a female, was injured trying to assist the first person.
The male was taken to a hospital in critical condition after suffering cardiac arrest. The female was conscious and was also taken to a hospital.
Rail service was halted for about an hour while emergency personnel attended to the victims.
It’s the social media selfie culture AND the serious decline in the critical thinking ability of people. We’ve dumbed down education so we reap what we sow.
Ah – the not so common – common sense.
Railfan or not, going down the tracks is extremely dangerous for everyone!
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
It is idiots like these that make it bad for careful and responsible railfans and photographers who know how to act the right way and follow the rules around railroad tracks and stations as well as railroad property and facilities. It is no wonder why many a rail or transit operator looks with suspicion and frowns upon anybody taking photos of trains or stations while on the property. They don’t need to have or deal with a silly lawsuit or accident case because some idiot didn’t follow the rules or law while being on rail or transit property or equipment. Walking or standing on tracks can get you a nice hefty fine or some jail time if law enforcement catches you and that is if you survive getting hit by an oncoming train or being electrocuted by the third rail or an overhead wire.
Joseph C. Markfelder
In reports we don’t call them “victims,” they are trespassers.
Traffic engineers don’t use the term “accident”. The use the terms “incident” or “crash”.
“At some point, society becomes too stupid to survive ….” (are we there yet?)
All I can say to add to the commentary above is that these two people would be candidates for a ‘Darwin Award’, should one of them (heaven-forbid) pass away from their injuries ……
We call it “selfie culture”. Like the kid who was trying to frame a selfie with a helicopter he had just got a ride in. He backed right into the tail rotor. This “hey look at the risk I am taking” lifestyle.
As for the CTA activity I would surmise they had already consumed a large amount of alcohol prior to arrival at the station. When I first read the headline, I assumed (wrongly) someone had decided to relieve themselves onto the third rail from the platform.
There’s a reason the signs say keep off the tracks.
We are becoming a nation of idiots.
Running red lights talking on the cell phone. Falling off cliffs while taking selfies. Etc.
Wanna bet some lawyer is already preparing to sue CTA?
CTA should sue the corpse for interfering with rail traffic.