A 15-year-old sophomore, Sergio Rodriguez, has died after stepping in front of a train on the way to Milby High School in Houston, Texas.
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The incident occurred on Monday, December 9th, on his way to school at around 7:30 am. According to a report by FOX26 News, Rodriguez tried to cross the tracks in front of an oncoming train but was hit and killed.
Details surrounding the catastrophe are unclear, but eyewitness reports suggest that the train was in motion when Rodriguez attempted to cross. The authorities aren't treating the incident as suspicious and believe it to simply be a "tragic accident."
Local parents declared the incident an "accident in the making," noting that "kids often crawl over stopped trains here."
According to Click2Houston, several students witnessed the fatality. Houston ISD (Independent School District) provides students with specialized counseling.
The report notes that a crisis team will be available on campus for the foreseeable future until the principal confirms they are no longer required. Houston ISD also reiterates that they "would never want students to jeopardize their safety to get to school on time."
The Local Community Is Aware Of The Risks Caused By These Trains
County Commissioner Adrian Garcia released a statement following the tragedy.
"I'm 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.
According to the report, Congresswoman Silvia Garcia also released a statement calling for an investigation. The goal is to understand how the accident occurred and to enhance safety measures for the community.
Fox26 also reports that local residents have complained about these trains for over two years. The trains often stop for 20 minutes to an hour. It's not unusual for some residents to walk under or over the trains to get past them.
The report confirms that Houston was awarded a $36.9M federal grant to build underpasses last year.
Sergio's family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with the funeral expenses. At the time of writing, the campaign has raised $24,750
