Teenager hit by train whilst texting, somehow survives

Granted, this isn't the first run-in we've seen between trains and an SMS-minded individual, but the former story certainly didn't involve a train coming into contact with a human. This time, however, an 18-year old Ohio resident managed to get carted away from a devastating collision after being struck by an oncoming locomotive. The kid apparently waited for one train to pass, but rather than double-checking for anything coming in the opposite direction, he simply forged ahead. Consequently, he was thrown 50-feet and knocked unconscious mid-sentence, but is thankfully recovering in a Cincinnati hospital.

[Via Switched]

[jrepetti @ Aug 23rd 2007 1:10AM]

A shame that evolution did not take place.

[oGMo @ Aug 23rd 2007 1:40AM]

On the contrary. This is the natural selection of those SMS users hardy enough to survive even a train hit. ;) What you really need is more trains...

[jimbeaux @ Aug 23rd 2007 1:13AM]

The kid had his AT&T iphone bill in his backpack, cushioning the blow.

[Jason @ Aug 23rd 2007 1:27AM]

He survived because God was the person he was messaging.

http://www.jasonleecochran.com

[michas_pi @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:01AM]

Dude, I gotta get God's number.


I hope He uses AT&T...

[Joe Smith @ Aug 23rd 2007 7:46AM]

god uses the jesusphone

[George Barley @ Aug 23rd 2007 1:21AM]

hahah the iphone saved his life...

[angelsvairwaves1 @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:57PM]

He wasnt even using in iPhone, and if he was the title would have been "Idiot Teenager Destroys iPhone, self"

[waiownsyou @ Aug 23rd 2007 1:30AM]

Wow, most people I know who are addicted to text messaging usually don't even look at their phones. I even drive and not get... err.. run over by trains.

Maybe the kid was playing Doom on the damn thing!

DAMN ALIEN THINGIES YOU HAVE TO SHOOT IN 2D!!!

ARG!!

[mike @ Aug 23rd 2007 1:31AM]

Did he get to finish his text message?

[mastershake916 @ Aug 23rd 2007 1:36AM]

Well at least this time he's the one in danger and not in a multi-ton vehicle endangering everyone else.

[ILOVEBLENDTEC @ Aug 23rd 2007 1:52AM]

wow this could have all been avoided if his parents bought him a car with gps!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/27/faith-in-gps-sends-mercedes-downstream/
http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/21/driver-follows-gps-onto-pedestrian-walkway-into-cherry-tree/

man these cases get dumber and dumber, you really can't defend these people.

[belyaun @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:39AM]

I'm sure his first message after getting hit was, "Sorry about the wait, I was hit by a train."

[Dustin Frazier @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:18AM]

Doctor....*cough*.....is my phone...*cough*....alright?

[Whatsizface @ Aug 23rd 2007 1:38PM]

Is the iPhone covered under warranty?

If they can replace a recliner-crushed iPhone http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/08/23/iphone-vs-recliner-recliner-1-iphone-0/, why not a train-crushed one?

[JoshR @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:21AM]

Replace the train with a taxi cab.. that's called Tuesday in Chicago.

[Brian @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:22AM]

This is technology's, not nature's, way of saying the kid is not fit to survive. After all, nothing involved here is natural, it's all man-made. If people had evolved a second brain and this kid didn't, then it would be natural selection (maybe).

[Fruition @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:47AM]

I beg to differ. It is biological in the sense that he is incapable of properly prioritizing the dangers in his environment.

I don't know about most people, but when I cross train tracks, I realize that a train can kill me, and I therefore take the time out to make sure my life is not in jeopardy before I devote my attention to trivial text messaging. The ability to properly anticipate potential dangers is indeed a biological trait.

[bl0nde @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:11AM]

This kid was *this* close to receiving a Darwin award.

[Angelo @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:26AM]

From: Greg
Message:
hy man yeh il b thre @ 4 but ask OH SHT jzt got hit by train!!! OMG!!!

[Dan @ Aug 23rd 2007 10:55AM]

This where actually calls make you sound cooler. A text could go on like nothing happened, but a call. "Hey, I'll be there - *train horn* *sound of 18 year old being thrown 50 feet*"
"Uhhh, dude, what was that"
*silence*

[bobbbio @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:41AM]

I honestly think you should give the kid a break. Granted, what happened was stupid and unfortunate, but the facts actually aren't that bad: He was waiting for the first train to go by so he really couldn't see or hear the second train; The first train was blocking his view and covering the sound of train number two. So, he went ahead after train one passed him. And BAM, train two comes out of hiding and hits him. Absent-minded, yes - but that's about it.

Quite frankly, every single person writing here has done something really idiotic and said afterwards, "damn, that was stupid; glad nothing happened." Unfortunately for this kid, something happened.

[Carbonize @ Aug 23rd 2007 5:21AM]

That's no excuse for not actually stopping to check that the second line was clear. If anything he should of taken extra care BECAUSE his view had been blocked and he couldn't hear anything over the first train.

Yes I've done stupid things but not where my life is concerned.

[Rich @ Aug 23rd 2007 8:19AM]

This is as stupid as not looking when crossing the second lane of a two-lane road. Absentminded-ism.

[uberfu @ Aug 23rd 2007 9:27AM]

WTF Ever !!

First off -
None of us were ever stupid enough to get hit by a train_

Secondly -
It is so easy for a train "hide" and jump out from a blind spot [insert sarcasm here]_ You moron_ You might as well have been right there with the "kid"_

And let's stop calling him a kid - he's 18 years old_

When I read the headline I was thinking 10 or 13 or 7_

But 18 - that's an adult in any industrial country on this planet_

[AlexP @ Aug 23rd 2007 6:00AM]

Humans aren't logical.

[Robotochan @ Aug 23rd 2007 6:03AM]

Evolution:
Sometimes I think gadgets are the next step in Natural Selection to bring about the next human evolution...

Creationism/Intelligent Design:
Sometimes I think god has started a flood but of gadgets to cleanse the human population of stupidity...

[Nik @ Aug 23rd 2007 6:54AM]

Guys at engadget... you forgot one important detail... DID THE TEXT GET SENT OR NOT?!?!? WE MUST KNOW

[Angie @ Aug 23rd 2007 7:59AM]

I don't think God is in my network.

[sir.keekles @ Aug 23rd 2007 8:10AM]

Well... Is his phone okay? Did it survive impact? Curious minds want to know.

[ronh @ Aug 23rd 2007 10:02PM]

OMFG hit by train. BRB.

[h8rain @ Aug 23rd 2007 9:01AM]

Boy: "Officer, I was just minding my own business, when all of a sudden that train came out of nowhere and hit me. Hey! Why are you putting handcuffs on me!

Officer: "Well obviously you are on some kind of wicked drug, so I am bring you down to the station."

The phone probably did not survive, because he was texting and from what I have heard, Nextel phones suck at texting, therefore it was not rugged nor able to survive being hit by a train.

Oh and btw, I can ring up God on my iPrayer :)

[Matthew L. Wallis @ Aug 23rd 2007 11:15AM]

Miss deaf Texas was hit by a train while texting in 2006 and died.

http://deafness.about.com/b/a/252064.htm

[TheWakeUpCall @ Aug 23rd 2007 9:55AM]

"Wil b hme in bout 25 mins. luv"

*looks up and sees train about 2 metres away..*

"erm wtf, crap"

[J-Roc @ Aug 23rd 2007 12:55PM]

Umm did no one hit the read link, it says that he is currently in serious condition at the hosptial, not recovering as Engadget reported.

[J @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:36PM]

How bad do you feel to be the person that was being texted?

[jitty @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:06PM]

5 words: Luckiest idiot in the world!

[Jeffrey A. Katz @ Aug 24th 2007 8:42AM]

In the spirit of a major wireless carrier . . . Can you hear the train now?

[allaina @ Nov 12th 2007 5:51PM]

i heard about this.

sadly, i'm a cincinnatian...