It is always a very sad day when police find a dead person at an accident scene, but none more tragic when it is a young girl just 13 years old. According to Kinston,North Carolina (NC) authorities the teenager was found dead Wednesday, May 6th along some Jones County railroad tracks.
Apparently, the teenage victim had fallen asleep on the tracks. The girl has been identified as Damaris Guzman. The girl’s father says the 13 year old ran away with her cousin last Monday night.
Investigators of this tragedy have spoken with the victim’s cousin and they have determined that the two decided to fall asleep on the railroad tracks just off Caswell Station Road. Guzman did not get out of the way of the oncoming train in time.
During the initial investigation of the accident it was believed that Guzman was attempting to jump on or off the moving train, but this has now been dismissed. Authorities do not believe foul play was involved in the death of the Kinston teenager. The child’s death has been ruled an accident.
According to Federal Railroad Administration statistics, 286 highway-rail grade crossing fatalities occurred in 2008. North Carolina is among the top 15 states having the highest incidences of highway-rail crossing fatalities. Awareness and education can do a great part in minimizing this statistic. Unfortunately, there will always be a factor of human error to contend with.
About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices ) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, as well as the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY, who handle car, truck, railroad, and medical negligence cases and more.
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