Sad: 11 Year Old Gets Killed By Train While Walking With Earphones
This is a shame. People we have to make sure we're paying attention in this world that is constantly moving!!
An 11 year old girl was struck and killed by a train after she didn't hear it coming.
Yazmin White never made it back to school after the holiday break. Grief counselors greeted the sixth-grader’s classmates Thursday at the Davenport School of the Arts in Polk County.
“Making sure all of our students that have concerns, that their hearts are heavy and broken, we’re providing that support to them here at the school,” said Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd.
Yazmin transferred to the magnet school at the start of year to study piano. We’re told the 11-year-old had a natural gift for music and was dedicated to her classwork as well as playing.
We’re told she was on her way home from a Haines City convenience store with some snacks to share with her 9-year-old brother, and took a shortcut over some train tracks. She didn’t see the engine coming toward her, even though the engineer was blaring the horn and slamming on the brakes.
“He continuously blew the horn for about a quarter of a mile, all the while he’s trying to stop the train,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Investigators say the 12-car passenger train was traveling just below the 70-mph speed limit. That gave Yazmin less than 30 seconds to respond, but she was wearing earbuds and looking down at her phone as she walked onto the rails.
“…And never, ever heard the train until the absolute last seconds when she looked up and it was too late and she tried to jump off of the tracks,” said Judd.
A horrible tragedy that has so many in this community hurting.
“She is going to be greatly missed,” Byrd said. “Greatly missed by the students and the faculty.” -(Catherine Hawley, FOX13)
Terrible...RIP.