An international organization is using this week to spread awareness of the dangers of trespassing on railroad tracks. Nan Arthur, the state coordinator for Operation Lifesaver, says it’s a huge problem in Louisiana.
“Trespassing in Louisiana is probably our highest incident level where we actually have fatalities. People walking on the tracks, people who ride their ATVs or work too close to the tracks,” Arthur said.
Arthur says in the last year, more than ten people have been killed by trains while trespassing on railroad tracks. She says railroad tracks are not the place to be goofing around.
“So many people take their pictures on the train tracks, whether it’s senior pictures, engagement pictures, just goofing around pictures. That’s illegal,” Arthur said.
As part of Think Train week, Arthur says Operation Lifesaver has special themes every day this week. Today’s theme is Operation Clear Track.
“We will have an officer on the train and then a detail working to watch people at certain intersections. Some might be ticketed if they are doing something wrong, but some may just be warned,” Arthur explained.
Arthur says especially if the trespasser is wearing noise-cancelling headphones, an oncoming train is not as loud as one may think.
