Oregon teen killed by train where train killed relative in 2010
JUNCTION CITY, Ore. - An Amtrak train hit and killed a teen Saturday night just feet from where one of his relatives was hit and killed by an Amtrak train in 2010.
Police said Julius Schmidt, 14, and two friends were praying at a memorial site where John Muller, a relative of Schmidt's, died in August 2010.
As the passenger train approached at 76 mph, the boys ran across the tracks.
"They were there to pray and to consider what happened to him," Police Chief Mark Chase said. "Unfortunately after that, they heard the train horn and they decided to run out in the track.
"Common sense says its not a good thing," the chief said, "but we’ve all been boys before and done things as juveniles."
Two of the boys made it. Schmidt did not.
Friends on Monday stopped by the memrial for Schmidt that appeared next to the tracks. They said the Oaklea Middle School student loved skateboarding and the music of Bob Marley.
"I was completely devastated. It's horrible," said Dylan Lynn. "I was like, wait - that didn't happen to him. No. I don't believe that."
"He would always make me smile," said Shania Wood. "He was always there for me. He was a really good friend."
Byron Knudtson's business is right in front of the scene of the accident. He said the death is tragic.
"Boy it's a big tragedy to have the kids taken like that," he said. "The whole town feels it."
The middle school had therapy rooms and counselors helping students Monday as they returned to classes.
Things a REAL railroad Operation Lifesaver (OL) group would ask!!!1. Why are all OL directors handpuppets of the railroad or government only giving lip service safety messages?2. Why nothing is ever mentioned by OL that would cost the railroads a penny on the obviously missing safety equipment and track maintenance work?3. Where are the crossing safety signals for the trains going too fast with  no brakes or steering at 1,000s of crossings?4. Where are the track video monitors for the trains going too fast with  no brakes or steering to get the train stopped IN TIME?5. Why aren't railroads paying at least half for crossing signals because it's their trains going too fast with  no brakes or steering while paying the so-called RR directors millions a year.6. Why the crossing humps trapping big trucks aren't required to be removed?7. Why the crossing surfaces aren't wider where if a vehicle fish tails on slick road and is trapped at the edge of the crossing surface trap?8. Why the train cabs aren't required to be lit up like a Christmas tree with emergency vehicle light bars?  LOOK AND SEE!!9. Why the front of trains aren't required to have air bags or something to soften impacts?10. Why trains don't have better braking systems? OLIs message now shows train brakes obviously suck.11. Why there are no bidding invitations on the obviously overcharged crossing projects the tax-payers pay the railroads for. $10,000 just to get the equipment to the sight. TRUCKED IN.12. Why trains are allowed to run in the fog?13. Why the crossings aren't lit up so drivers can see the black rail cars across the tracks at night?14. Why railroads remove and steal signals we paid for on closed re-worked crossings?15. Why $$$millions$$$ of the rail safety budget we pay in is wasted on needless reworks at crossings preventing signals where needed?16. Why the railroad isn't required to de-ice crossings before they roll the trains?17. Why the railroad isn't required to raise their overpasses so big trucks can get under them? The railroad wants to double stack and our road overpasses are too low---no problem WE PAY MILLIONS.18. Why drug/alcohol tests aren't done on rail crews at crossing/pedestrian collisions?19. Why railroads are allowed to get off with the train black box , signal black box (if crossing signals are present), and cab video at crossing/pedestrian collisions?20. Why the fact is hidden that trains kill a few thousand people in 100 million train miles when regular drivers have like ONE death?21.Why Amtrak passengers aren't required to look at the despicable shape of the crossings before they board the trains?22.Why train horns aren't blown at private crossings till the last second freezing drivers?23.Why the railroads track lights can't be at a crossing?24 .Why railroads need track lights and civilians don't?WAITING FOR OLI/OLI.CA response.
The middle school should have some common sense classes to go along with those counselors and therapy rooms.
These guys are like the Flying Wallenda family, but different...waaay different
Perhaps the family might want to consider moving the memorial to another venue AWAY from the dang tracks.....sheesh!!! **facepalm**Â Condolences (again) to the surviving family.
 @TreeTopFlyer We did, it was common sense but kids did that so we got cops to move it. Obviously you don't know what happened, or probably live in our town. Oh and thanks for the condolences jerk.
Darwin FTW.
 @C-Coder Sadly, I have to agree.
First, why on earth put the first memorial next to the tracks? Now we have a second memorial going up next to the tracks. Common sense is lacking all around in this situation.
I remember the trains in Germany being electric so you really don't hear them coming.
As a kid I played around tracks. It's a wonder I survived.
Almost the same way John died, too. http://www.registerguard.com/web/updates/25167785-46/train-front-police-junction-killed.html.csp. Except I don't think this latest victim was drunk.
Since he was there to visit the memorial of the relative killed by getting hit by a train, you would think he would realize to STAY OFF THE TRACKS!
My sympathies to his family & friends, especially those that saw it happen. Hopefully there won't be any others killed while visiting this ones memorial.
The stupid irony of it all.
Talk about bad Karma for that family! Stop going to those tracks. My condolences to the family
 @dkgiovenco Bad karma? My little brother died cause his foot got stuck while visiting my dead uncle, he wasn't drunk, high, or anything like that. The memorial got moved, but there's still gonna be a kid there no matter what I mean its common for people to die that way. But don't talk about bad karma, cause I can tell you didn't know anything about him.
Railroad tracks are private property. DO NOT TRESSPASS and you will have a ZERO percent chance of getting hit by a train.
My condolences to the family
This is very sad, my condolences for the family, and the friends who were there with him.Â