(Antioch, California – June 27, 2012)
A 17-year-old high school senior-to-be was struck and killed Wednesday morning about 9:10 A.M. near the Antioch, CA marina by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train as she walked along BNSF railroad tracks on her way to visit a memorial to a friend who had been killed by an Amtrak passenger train on the same BNSF tracks just three months earlier.
The victim, Samantha Aparicio, was hit by the 5,715-foot-long train operating in 60 mph territory as she attempted to pay her respects to the memory of her friend, Jesse Millard-Morris, who died in April as he rode his bicycle across BNSF tracks at the intersection of L Street in Antioch.
Among those who gathered near the scene to mourn the death of still another friend were the parents of the earlier victim, David and Kathy Morris. There are a lot of children and families who live on boats in the area and the trains are going real fast, said Kath Morris.
While Antioch Police were conducting their investigation, BNSF spokesperson Lena Kent said her company would investigate the accident as well, but did not expect them to release any information this week.
By mid-afternoon, some five hours after the tragedy, the body of the victim was still lying at the scene, all but hidden by tall grass, and the spot being guarded by a BNSF employee.
