UPS Van Driver Killed by Train

Maybe too many stops in the truck?

 

Those drivers are always strapped for time, but you don't often hear about one getting struck by a train. Most of the train-related deaths here in San Diego County are suicides who deliberately stand on the tracks in front of the oncoming train... the poor sods.

 

It looks like he struck the train?

 

One of my seven brothers has lived in central MO for many years, and the state government there once pushed a big campaign to cut down all the wrecks and deaths at those unguarded crossings... if I remember correctly, the campaign poster and billboard line went: "ALWAYS EXPECT A TRAIN!" Good advice, especially for those behind the wheels of big trucks. Turning down the stereo and cracking the window(s) doesn't hurt either...

 

That driver was a dear friend of mine's husband, and one great man. Everyone is in absolute SHOCK about this terrible accident. Terry Hampton is his name, 52, he was a great friend, a loyal and devoted husband, and always had a smile on his face no matter what. His wife is devasted as this was the love of her life and has had to endure a lot in her life loosing family of her own at an early age. I can only pray and ask anyone and everyone reading this to say just one prayer for her and fight for train arms to be required to be put at every road regardless. He was ONE SPECIAL MAN and he will be missed greatly by many many people. In loving memory, RIP my friend, Terry Hampton. We love you.

 

This is coming from someone that lost 2 Close friends to Grade Crossing accidents and also has Friends that are RR Crew Members. As OTR drivers we complain all the time about cars cutting us off however we at least can steer out of the WAY. A train does not Even have that Option. We weigh 80K lbs with our Load the Normal Diesel Locomotive is 200+ tons on its OWN the Normal train is over 7000 TONS they can take well over a mile to stop. What killed that UPS driver was 2 things one he forgot one rule Always Expect a TRAIN and 2 UPS as a Company and their Stupid overworking of their Drivers. I called a Retired UPS driver and on a Normal day they are expected to make over 100 Stops each without getting into Overtime. Inorder to do that in an 8 hour shift they have to make over 100 stops an hour it can not be done. Years ago when he first started it was 50 stops a day in 8 hours and it was possible then.

 

Yeah, that's exactly what I mean when I say "strapped for time." All those panel van drivers rat-race around my home town, not just UPS, so I reckon they're all run the same way. Years ago, a UPS driver killed a 5-year-old kid in the Coronado Cays, trying to make such a ridiculous deadline... makes ya wonder where the regulation is in that sector of the transportation industry. If you recall, Domino's Pizza was sued after one of its drivers caused a wreck, racing around trying to meet the "30 minutes or it's free" deadline, so the company put an end to that dangerous program.