(Welch, Oklahoma – April 7, 2013)
A 16-year-old junior student at Welch, OK High School lost his life late Sunday afternoon at about 5:14 P.M. as he jogged along Union Pacific Railroad tracks that bisect the Craig County, OK city of Welch.
Logan Hankins of Welch was jogging southbound beside UPRR tracks when he was hit and killed instantly by the train which overtook him as he ran near the area of First Street and U.S. Highway 59.
The tragedy was investigated by Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers from both the Nowata County, and Washington County detachments. The troopers said it was unclear if the victim was even aware of the train coming up behind him.
According to Federal Railroad Administration records, a daily average of 17 freight trains operate through the Welch community at top speeds of 60 mph.
Adding irony to the tragedy was the fact that on Wednesday of this week, Welch High School will be hosting a program by the Victims’ Impact Panel of Oklahoma which, although the program’s main emphasis is upon preventing teen drinking and driving, panel members share and discuss the impact of tragic events upon young lives, families and the community at large.
