15-year-old Milby High School student dies after being hit by train
Milby High School student struck, killed by train
FOX 26 Reporter Damali Keith has more after a 15-year-old Milby High School Student was struck and killed by a train while on the way to school on Monday morning.
HOUSTON - A 15-year-old Milby High School student is dead after he was hit and killed by a train on Monday morning. The tragedy happened in East Houston on Broadway Street, just outside the high school.
It was a heartbreaking start to the school day as a Milby High School student walking to school never made it across the train tracks. The teenager we're told was a Milby High School football player.
SUGGESTED: Houston crash: 2-year-old dies after being struck by vehicle
Houston police investigators say he tried to cross in front of an oncoming train around 7:30 a.m.
"It feels so sad being there (at school) seeing a lot of teachers crying. I mean a boy just passed away in front of the school," cries Veronica, who's a Milby High Sophomore.
"I did know him since middle school. He was a sweet boy, stayed out of trouble. He was in football, was good at it," Veronica adds.
"The train was in motion as he tried to cross in front of the train. That's the information that we're getting from a couple of eyewitnesses here. We're working with the Union Pacific Railroad Police. They're getting us video footage from the train itself. So, we will take a look. It seems like this is just a tragic accident," explains Sgt. Bill Elsbury with the Houston Police Department.
Some kids and parents say it's a tragic accident that was years in the making, because they say often kids crawl over or under stopped trains here.
"I've had concerns that a child would get hurt for a long time, because it's very dangerous," says one mother.
"There should be a bridge for the safety of the kids," adds another mom.
"It's terrible. I mean, anytime we lose a child or juvenile, I can't imagine anything worse. It's terrible," Elsbury stated and added that it appeared the railroad crossing gates were working properly.
"Our first unit on scene was actually stopped for the railroad crossing itself. She was stopped here waiting for the train to cross. The arms did come down. They were functional. They came down. They stopped traffic. She just didn't have a vantage point to actually see the accident occur," Elsbury explains.
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia released the following statement: "I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of a student near Milby High School this morning. My heart goes out to the family, friends, and community as they grieve this devastating loss. Please keep them in your prayers. I am closely monitoring the situation and have been in contact with Mayor Whitmire and officials at the local, state, and federal levels, including the Federal Railroad Administration. I am calling for a full investigation to understand what led to this tragedy and to identify ways to enhance safety in our communities. As always, I urge everyone to prioritize safety and stay vigilant near railways and crossings."
Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia also released a statement saying, "We are grieving the death of a young man in Precinct 2– a Milby High School student whose death this morning was related to one of the many train lines in Houston’s East End. As Commissioner for Precinct 2, I am all too familiar with the dangers associated with these train tracks, which fuel the regional economy but too often put the health and safety of East End residents at risk. That is why I have prioritized partnering with the City and federal government to build new grade separations to create a safer environment. It is critical that all partners, including METRO, make the investments necessary to, as much as possible, reduce the burden East End residents bear in holding up our region."