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Coroner rules teen's train death an accident

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By Steve Bennish, GREENVILLE, Darke County Updated 6:04 PM Thursday, May 14, 2009

The death of an 18-year-old woman killed May 2 in Union City when she tried to run across railroad tracks and was hit by a train has been ruled an accident, the Darke County Coroner’s office said.

Destiny Longenecker died at 9:30 p.m. near the CSX Railroad crossing at Deerfield Road in Union City.

Darke County Coroner Timothy Kathman, M.D., said Thursday, May 14, that review of a video from a train-mounted camera provided by CSX Transportation showed Longenecker “attempting to cross the tracks in front of the train without sufficient time or clearance to do so.”

The train was traveling about 45 mph, within the speed limit for train traffic at that location.

The crossing gates were down, the bell was functioning normally, and the engineer was sounding the horn as the train approached the crossing, Kathman’s statement said.

Longenecker, of Greenville, was a senior at Greenville Senior High School.

Before she attempted to cross the tracks, a 17-year-old male friend ran across and made it to the other side safely, said Joe VanVickle, chief investigator in the coroner’s office.

“It’s a tragic accident and the 17-year-old male is not responsible,” VanVickle said.

The investigation was conducted by the coroner’s office and the Union City Police Department.

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We all need to let her rest in peace. We were not there to be talking about this. It was her and the good lord above-her and her family have been through enough. We all can now learn from what has happened from this tragic situation and teach our children. Everyone is young once and does something crazy lord knows I have. May your young soul rest in peace and your family will forever be in our prayers.

Tracy Bahena
2:40 PM, 5/28/2009

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Troy,

She didn't drive, she ran, as in on foot. The ruling of accident means that no one else was at fault, as in she was not pushed or pulled in front of the train, and it is not believed that she intended to cause her own death.

rt
1:36 PM, 5/15/2009

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I saw her grandfather in church on Sunday and the family is heartbroken. The young always think they are invinsible, but remember, we were all young once. May she rest in peace.

ME
1:05 PM, 5/15/2009

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How can they rule it an accident. She knowingly drove infront of the train. An accident would be if a meteor fell on her.

People don't realize that the laws of physics are more important then the laws on the road. If it's bigger than you, don't go infront of it.

It's a sad ending to her life. Sorry to hear that.

Troy
11:09 AM, 5/15/2009

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NickM--I pray that you do not have children. You could never understand the pain of losing a child. And thats what she was, someones daughter!! Show some respect!!

Just Me
11:29 PM, 5/14/2009

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