Don't mess with a train

I was stunned Sunday to find out a 17-year old high school basketball player had been killed by a train in Duncan, Okla., Saturday evening. I knew this young man’s father when he played basketball at South Grand Prairie High School here in Grand Prairie 20-plus years ago and would visit with him some when his son was a freshman point guard for his dad’s alma mater back in 2007 before transferring.

Deion Jackson-Houston was a standout at Duncanville High School with a bright future in the sport. Numerous Division I schools were interested in him but Saturday’s accident should give us all a reality check.

First reports say Houston was a driving a car hit by a Union Pacific train and was dragged several hundred feet before being released. The train struck the back passenger’s door and Houston died from internal injuries.

The accident happened at an unprotected crossing in Duncan meaning there were no crossing gates or red flashing lights. Engineers in the cab of the lead locomotive said Houston drove right in front of them and there was nothing they could do.

This is a tragedy. Forget basketball right now and just think that a young man’s life was taken way too soon. I cannot imagine what his father, Stacy Houston, or his mother Reshonda Jackson-Houston, are going through or the rest of the family.

And I cannot imagine what the train crew is going through either. Remember, the Houston family is not the only one suffering through this.

At the same time maybe this will be a lesson to Deion’s family and friends – don’t mess with a train. Being an avid rail fan and photographing trains I’ve seen a few near misses of cars trying to beat a train. I’ve also seen – not witnessed – a couple of car-train accidents where emergency crews are literally picking up body parts. Trust me it is NOT a pretty site.

People please remember the Stop, Look and Listen slogan when approaching a railroad crossing especially in rural areas or smaller towns where there are not protected gates or red flashing signals. Trains cannot, and I repeat CANNOT stop immediately.

Depending on the tonnage and how fast the train is moving it could take up to a half-mile, maybe longer before the train can come to a complete halt. And a lot of times the cars are crushed like soda cans.

I do not know what Deion was thinking whether he was trying to beat the train or just wasn’t paying attention. Maybe his music was too loud and didn’t hear the train blowing its horn.

Who knows? I’m sad for Deion and sad for Stacy and the rest of his family and friends. I also feel for the train crew too. This is a tragic accident.