August 16th, 2010 | 
Author: JUNCTION CITY, OR – A man on foot who ran across the tracks was killed when he was struck by an Amtrak train in Junction City, Oregon on August 10, 2010.
Railroad crossing at 6th and West Front St. in Junction City, OR where fatal accident occurred.
Junction City is in Lane County, Oregon in the western part of the state, about 15 miles northwest of Eugene and about 102 miles southwest of Portland.
The accident happened at about 11:30 p.m. at the railroad crossing at 6th and West Front Street in downtown Junction City. The victim was identified as 22 year-old John Robert Mueller from Junction City.
Mueller, who had been out drinking with friends that night, was walking on foot with two other men from one location to another. He was on his way to a friend’s house after buying some beer from a local store. The accident happened when two of them tried to cross the tracks where there was an oncoming train.
Location of fatal train accident with pedestrian in Junction City, Oregon on August 10, 2010.
All the warning signs were there. At the railway crossing, the red lights were flashing and the arms had lowered and the train’s horn was blowing loudly. One of the men crossed the tracks, one of them stayed behind and Mueller tried to get across and didn’t make it.
The train was approaching at about 70 mph and he was killed instantly. His body was thrown more than 240 feet down the tracks as a result of the impact.
This was a very unfortunate tragedy because it is believed that Mueller’s judgment was impaired by alcohol. He had been out drinking rum with friends at the time. His death was mourned by family and friends.
This is a very sad occasion where one split-second decision made the difference between life and death.
According to police, the train engineer stopped the train immediately after the incident. An investigation revealed that there was no sign of wrongdoing on his part.
Fortunately, there were no reports of any injuries from passengers or railroad employees as a result of the mishap. After the train stopped, passengers got off and Amtrak arranged for them to be transported by taxi to the train depot in Eugene a few miles away. From there they were able to continue on to their final destinations.
The Amtrak train was heading from Portland to Eugene at the time of the incident.
Published by FELA lawyer Gordon & Elias, LLP
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