(this is amazing) Railway Gets Damages from Man Run Over by Train...

[Endangered Specie]

{

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's state railway PKP is claiming compensation from a man who caused delays to its services by being run over by a train -- but said it may forgive the debt after learning the man's house had burned down.

"We are acting in accordance with article 415 of the Civil Code, seeking damages from a person who caused delays in rail traffic," PKP spokesman Krzysztof Lancucki said on Monday.

He said 19-year-old Pawel Banaszek, who was paralyzed in the incident in August 2003, caused 2,058 zlotys ($580) worth of losses due to delays.

Half the amount was written off and Banaszek was paying the rest in 80-zloty monthly installments from his 600-zloty disability pension. Lancucki said he had made three payments so far.

}

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=757&e=5&u=/nm/20040928/od_nm/train_dc

[benburch]

1. Why is it amazing?

Sounds to me like he did intentionally put himself on the tracks to be run over, and in doing so damaged the railway. I'm sorry, but you simply cannot do that. I knew a railroad engineer once who said that he had nightmares from the couple of times people stepped in front of his train to kill themselves. There is literally NOTHING that the railroad or the engineer can do to prevent such an occurrence.

[mark414]

2. can you imagine that?

being in the front car and seeing someone standing on the tracks and knowing that there is absolutely not a goddamn thing you can do?

[benburch]

3. It would be horrific.

And your average engineer has a few close calls every week from people deciding that they can beat the train to the crossing.

Fortunately, most do.

Another huge problem is pedestrians on railroad bridges. When the train comes there is usually nowhere you can relocate yourself to on the bridge that would be safe, and not enough time to run off the bridge.