Longtime friend ... gone :-(
Amtrak Train Strikes, Kills Teen Crossing Tracks
Residents Say Many People Take Shortcut Across Train Tracks
MIDDLE RIVER, Md. -- A Baltimore County teenager who had severe hearing and voice impairments was killed after he was hit by a train Saturday night.
The warnings about crossing tracks are out there, but Richard Helmick, 18, and some friends crossing the tracks as they had done many times before, WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team reporter Lisa Robinson reported.
Amtrak trains speed through Middle River anywhere from 60 to 110 mph -- dangerous speeds for anyone trying to cross the tracks on foot. But that's what David Laisure, 21, said he, Helmick and two others did Saturday evening.
"We was all crossing the tracks then we looked back there was a sudden impact. I turned to look, [but] no one was there," Laisure said.
Laisure said he realized Helmick (pictured, right) had been hit and raced back to call 911.
"I think he made it across the tracks then the impact of the car sucked him in," Laisure said.
Laisure said he and Helmick often entered the Amtrak property to take a short cut to the store. The area where Helmick was hit is off limits to the public, but residents said crossing the tracks is a risk that many people take because it cut an hour-long trip to the store to a trip that takes five minutes, Robinson reported.
But it's a trip made even more dangerous for the two because both are hearing impaired. The two had been friends since elementary school.
"They helped each other, being hearing impaired. I don't think Richard [heard the train], the rest of them heard a little bit," Laisure's uncle, Ralph Isabell said.
For now, Laisure said he has learned his lesson and will stay away from the tracks -- a shortcut that he said cost him a good friend.
In a written statement, Amtrak extends its sympathies to the family but also added that this was an avoidable tragedy because Helmick was on Amtrak property restricted to the public. Amtrak urges everyone to stay off of train tracks.
Milton Hensley lives across from the tracks and said he sees people take chances all the time, taking a shortcut, despite efforts by Amtrak to keep people out.
"They maintain it pretty good, [it's] just that every time they repair it [the fence], the kids come out and tear the fence again," Hensley said.
The 11 News I-Team saw fences at the scene, even barbed wire running along the track. Laisure said the two entered from an alley near Orville and Middlesex roads, down a wooded path to an area where the fence was torn down.
... When I first heard about Richard, my stomach tangled into so many knots, I honestly didnt know what to think. David and Richard went to elemntary and middle school with me. I remember running into Richard at Kmart recently and talking to him forever. I called Sabrina last night, and talked to her, and Jamie and David are both taking it pretty hard. I miss all of those guys, and its so sad that it takes something like this to bring us all back together. I need to talk to Heather ... Hopefully theres going to be memorial service where we can all go together. Im trying to hide my emotions as much as I can, I just wanna concentrate on the show without anymore drama then there already is ... I guess Im the one that wants to make sure everyone else is okay, and everything is okay, before worrying about myself and what Im going through. I just want Heather and Sabrina :-(
Rehearsal was really bad last night. The 3 black girls finally decided to show up to rehearsal, but they didnt know that we cut thier scene. Me and Kim are not the confrontational type, and you know how those "Chesapeake" people can be, we were scared. The DIRECTORS were hiding in the wings, how sad is that? I almost cried after that whole big ordeal, I felt like crap. Then Mallory had an asthma attack and ended up leaving early with Charlie, she makes me wonder sometimes. She ended up going to the hospital this morning, they got her bokos from first period and all that.
I got to talk to someone I love so much on the phone last night, it made my bad day end on a good note.
I just hope things get better, in general.
I cant wait till next week. There are quite a few things to look forward to ...
Saturday - WORK DAY ... PERMANENT SET!
Tuesday - NO SCHOOL!
Friday - CLAY AIKEN/KELLY CLARKSON CONCERT AND SPENDING THE NIGHT WITH KEL
Saturday - MY MOST FAVORITEST COUSIN IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD IS COMING WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND!!!!! AND WHYATTS BIG CLEAN UP FOR NHS!
Sunday - FIRST TECH RUN THROUGH!
Feel free to comment about any of this.
Residents Say Many People Take Shortcut Across Train Tracks
MIDDLE RIVER, Md. -- A Baltimore County teenager who had severe hearing and voice impairments was killed after he was hit by a train Saturday night.
The warnings about crossing tracks are out there, but Richard Helmick, 18, and some friends crossing the tracks as they had done many times before, WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team reporter Lisa Robinson reported.
Amtrak trains speed through Middle River anywhere from 60 to 110 mph -- dangerous speeds for anyone trying to cross the tracks on foot. But that's what David Laisure, 21, said he, Helmick and two others did Saturday evening.
"We was all crossing the tracks then we looked back there was a sudden impact. I turned to look, [but] no one was there," Laisure said.
Laisure said he realized Helmick (pictured, right) had been hit and raced back to call 911.
"I think he made it across the tracks then the impact of the car sucked him in," Laisure said.
Laisure said he and Helmick often entered the Amtrak property to take a short cut to the store. The area where Helmick was hit is off limits to the public, but residents said crossing the tracks is a risk that many people take because it cut an hour-long trip to the store to a trip that takes five minutes, Robinson reported.
But it's a trip made even more dangerous for the two because both are hearing impaired. The two had been friends since elementary school.
"They helped each other, being hearing impaired. I don't think Richard [heard the train], the rest of them heard a little bit," Laisure's uncle, Ralph Isabell said.
For now, Laisure said he has learned his lesson and will stay away from the tracks -- a shortcut that he said cost him a good friend.
In a written statement, Amtrak extends its sympathies to the family but also added that this was an avoidable tragedy because Helmick was on Amtrak property restricted to the public. Amtrak urges everyone to stay off of train tracks.
Milton Hensley lives across from the tracks and said he sees people take chances all the time, taking a shortcut, despite efforts by Amtrak to keep people out.
"They maintain it pretty good, [it's] just that every time they repair it [the fence], the kids come out and tear the fence again," Hensley said.
The 11 News I-Team saw fences at the scene, even barbed wire running along the track. Laisure said the two entered from an alley near Orville and Middlesex roads, down a wooded path to an area where the fence was torn down.
... When I first heard about Richard, my stomach tangled into so many knots, I honestly didnt know what to think. David and Richard went to elemntary and middle school with me. I remember running into Richard at Kmart recently and talking to him forever. I called Sabrina last night, and talked to her, and Jamie and David are both taking it pretty hard. I miss all of those guys, and its so sad that it takes something like this to bring us all back together. I need to talk to Heather ... Hopefully theres going to be memorial service where we can all go together. Im trying to hide my emotions as much as I can, I just wanna concentrate on the show without anymore drama then there already is ... I guess Im the one that wants to make sure everyone else is okay, and everything is okay, before worrying about myself and what Im going through. I just want Heather and Sabrina :-(
Rehearsal was really bad last night. The 3 black girls finally decided to show up to rehearsal, but they didnt know that we cut thier scene. Me and Kim are not the confrontational type, and you know how those "Chesapeake" people can be, we were scared. The DIRECTORS were hiding in the wings, how sad is that? I almost cried after that whole big ordeal, I felt like crap. Then Mallory had an asthma attack and ended up leaving early with Charlie, she makes me wonder sometimes. She ended up going to the hospital this morning, they got her bokos from first period and all that.
I got to talk to someone I love so much on the phone last night, it made my bad day end on a good note.
I just hope things get better, in general.
I cant wait till next week. There are quite a few things to look forward to ...
Saturday - WORK DAY ... PERMANENT SET!
Tuesday - NO SCHOOL!
Friday - CLAY AIKEN/KELLY CLARKSON CONCERT AND SPENDING THE NIGHT WITH KEL
Saturday - MY MOST FAVORITEST COUSIN IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD IS COMING WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND!!!!! AND WHYATTS BIG CLEAN UP FOR NHS!
Sunday - FIRST TECH RUN THROUGH!
Feel free to comment about any of this.