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[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 2:44pm

The reigning Miss Deaf Texas who was killed by a train was text messaging her parents and friends on her cell phone as she walked near the tracks and might have been distracted, police said.

Tara McAvoy, 18, was walking about a foot away from Union Pacific railroad tracks. She had typed a message to her parents, both of whom are hearing-impaired, letting them know she was walking along the tracks from home to her mother's workplace on Monday.

A few minutes later, McAvoy was struck by the snowplow on the front of a 65-car Union Pacific train, which authorities said extended 16 inches on both sides of the tracks. She died at the scene.

"As the train approached, they sounded the horn and got no response," Austin police Detective David Fugitt said. "They activated the emergency brakes but were unable to stop in time."

Fugitt said he is not sure whether McAvoy would have felt vibrations from the train, which was hauling a fleet of cars from Mexico to St. Louis.

Gene Mirus, an instructor in the deaf studies department at Gallaudet University in Washington, said deaf people often have a false sense of security when walking along train tracks.

"It is easy for deaf people to walk on railroad tracks under the premise that vibrations would warn them of an oncoming train," Mirus wrote the Austin American-Statesman in an e-mail. "Contrary to what most people think, there are no vibrations on railroad tracks."

Based on factors ranging from the type of train to its weight to the kind of rail, a person wouldn't necessarily feel any vibrations from an approaching train, said Warren Flatau, spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration, which is part of U.S. Department of Transportation and regulates the safety of the nation's railroad operations.

"A train can sneak up on you," he said.

A railroad spokesman said that the accident underscores the danger of walking anywhere near railroad tracks.

"It's not safe to be there," said Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis.

Mirus said he is working on a national campaign to educate deaf people about the dangers of walking on railroad tracks.

McAvoy graduated from the Texas School for the Deaf in 2005 and won the state pageant in June. She was scheduled to compete in the national pageant in California this year. She had been a cheerleader, a basketball player and an honor roll student at the school.


Updated On: 3/16/06 at 02:44 PM

[robbiej]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 2:46pm

"It is easy for deaf people to walk on railroad tracks under the premise that vibrations would warn them of an oncoming train,"

So...it's common for deaf people to walk along train tracks?

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 2:46pm

a train can sneak up on you

i may never get this phrase out of my head.

[Craig]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 2:49pm

Was she deaf from birth? If so, wouldn't she know or have been told by age 19 not to walk near tracks since she wouldn't be able to feel vibrations?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 2:52pm

Was there no mention of miniature guide ponies in the article?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 2:54pm

"Mirus said he is working on a national campaign to educate deaf people about the dangers of walking on railroad tracks."

Maybe Marlee Matlin could host a telethon.

[robbiej]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 2:55pm

Again, this is such an epidemic that a national campaign must be waged?

I find that...well...fascinating is perhaps the best word.

[Craig]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 2:55pm

Margo - and what phone was she using.

Do you think they'll install features in all future phones that send you a text with promimity readings of oncoming cars, buses, trains and airplanes?

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 2:57pm

Didn't she have GPS on her phone? It could have saved her.
Updated On: 3/16/06 at 02:57 PM

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 2:59pm

Only in Texas, Robbiej. Only in Texas.
*pops in "Dancer in the Dark", learns lesson as Bjork sings and walks along the tracks*

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 2:59pm

Maybe there's a market for cellphones with special GPS features for the hearing-impaired. Like when you're busy texting, walking along a railroad track, suddenly a message will pop up:

"Grrrrrrrrl, you betta turn yo' butt around and see what's a-comin'."

Updated On: 3/16/06 at 02:59 PM

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 3:02pm

I love that the message comes from a streetwise New York gay.

[Craig]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 3:02pm

I still refer to my previous comment in the other thread. When walking along train tracks (regardless of whether that's smart or not) - wouldn't it be the "no brainer" to not walk in the same direction, but against the flow of traffic?

Now we'll get studies about the dangers of texting.

Boy is Catherine Zeta Jones going to be busy now!

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 3:06pm

Because we all know that 18 year olds that can hear never have any lapses in judgement...
Updated On: 3/16/06 at 03:06 PM

[Craig]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 3:09pm

Erik - not according to the 18 years old that post here

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 3:12pm

craig, c'mon, out there in the sticks trains can often go in both directions on the same track. it's true. i grew up in a steeltown and have been dealing with trains all my life.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 3:12pm

AND she was texting her parents that she was walking along the tracks?! Maybe that would've been a good time to have a chat about the dangers of rail walking...oops! too late.

and Margo, you are obsessed with those tiny ponies...you need to get one!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 3:15pm

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 3:17pm

And it really was all for naught since Katherine wasn't even in the bottom three last night.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 3:18pm

awww...what'ser name?

[Craig]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 3:19pm

In other news, new signs are now being placed near all train tracks at the expense of the taxpayer.

[robbiej]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 3:19pm

'I love that the message comes from a streetwise New York gay.'

I thought it was Niecey Nash from Style Network's CLEAN HOUSE.

Same dif.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 3:23pm

Not sure what the itty-bitty pony's name is.

Sugarlump?

[Craig]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 3:25pm

I thought it was EdJr

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 3:25pm

Call her Nextel.