[Fair use for education and research purpose only]

Title: Train Kills Beresford Man

From staff and wire reports

published: 4/9/00

A Beresford man attending the University of Kansas was killed and two others injured early Saturday when their car collided with an Amtrak train east of Lawrence, Kan.

Authorities say Ryan James Travis, 19, of Beresford was pronounced dead at the scene. His roommate, Jeffrey James Mitchell, 19, also of Beresford, was taken to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., where he was listed in critical condition.

The third passenger, Nathan Charles Roy, 20, of Stockton, Kan., was in fair condition Saturday afternoon.

Travis was the son of Richard and Judy Travis of Beresford. Mitchell is the son of Bill and Gail Mitchell of Beresford.

The pair graduated from high school last spring.

Deb Muller of Beresford said Travis and Mitchell "were both excellent students."

"If our school had valedictorian and salutatorian, they would have been it," she says. "They graduated at the top of their class. They were both very popular and well liked.

"(Travis) will be missed by a lot of people."

Her son, Luke Muller, was a school friend of both. "They were always willing to help people," he said.

Travis worked at the Jubilee grocery store in Beresford, and he went out for golf in high school, Luke Muller, said. Mitchell played football and went out for golf as a senior.

The accident occurred shortly after 1 a.m. just east of the city limits on a paved road in an agricultural area. Douglas County Sheriff Cpl. Gayland Guinn said the car pulled in front of the westbound train approaching Lawrence.

"Witnesses at the scene said the car came to a stop at the down cross arms and for whatever reason went around them and was struck by the train," Guinn said.

The car was spun off the side of the road, and the Chicago to Los Angeles Southwest Chief safely came to a stop, Guinn said. There were no injuries to passengers or crew.

There were no alcohol containers found at the scene, but Guinn said at least one of the victims had been drinking. The crossing is marked with crossing arms, lights and bells.

The accident was being investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff's office and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, which owns the tracks.

Guinn did not know how fast the train was traveling but said that it was approaching an area where it begins to slow down.

University of Kansas Chancellor Robert Hemenway offered condolences Saturday on behalf of the university.

"Our hearts go out to the parents, families and friends of these young men," he said. "Nothing saddens the KU community more than the news of a tragic accident like this, involving students so young and full of promise."

All content Copyright ) 1997-2000 by Argus Leader.

http://www.argusleader.com/news/Sundayarticle3.shtml

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), April 09, 2000

Answers

please, someone help us understand how this story has anything at all to do with Y2K. Tragic yes! ... Y2K, don't see how.

-- walter eagle (eagle@ria.net), April 09, 2000.

[Fair use for education and research purpose only]

Note: Posting for the record of train related injuries and death...

Tuesday, April 11, 2000

Title: Chilhowie Man Killed by Train

A Chilhowie man died when he was struck by a train early Monday afternoon, Virginia State Police said.

The death occurred at 12:20 p.m. on Norfolk Southern tracks 2 miles west of Chilhowie. The train engineer told Trooper G.M. Shell that a man was sitting on the tracks. The man saw the train approaching but made no effort to move, police said.

The state police identified the man as William Gale Haga , 67, a resident of Maple Grove Rest Home in Chilhowie.

http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/news/story91962.html

-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), April 11, 2000.