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2008 February Slush
(DA)Chalk one up for the dog.
(DA)Slip Sliding Away
(HM)Mexican Divorce
(?)Seatbelt subterfuge kills driver
(?)Mamba kills Man
(Hmmm)Surfing the wrong wave
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(DA)A Breathtaking View
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(DA)On the Piste
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Brain Evacuation
(?)Darwin in heavy traffic
Man died after driving down boat ra
(HM)Shock Horror
(No)Swimming with the fish (bits)
no diving please
(DA)Hare today, gone tomorrow
(>)Living the High Life (On a Budget)
(DA)Stabbing suspect dies in car crash
Fatal Ski Slope Prank
Up, Up, and Away!
Top of the train
Killer locomotive
A good thought gone bad
Monk killed by own runaway lawnmowe
Bridges are lower than they appear
Inspiration + Youth + Explosives =
Manhole kills man, Dove in for Cana
Mattress Race
Roping a Bobcat
Tree felling made easy
Old shells never die
feeling tyred - near miss
(DA)4 Die In Dirtbike Collision
Wash those genes away
Just Say No
Man has friend shoot him to get off
BASE jumper succumbs to stupidity
A Mattress of Life and Death....
boat welding
Trail Blazing Gaffe
Tram drags man with him
Community service for teen who burn
Death by iPod?
If at first you don't succeed
The $500 Bullet
Please Take This Outside
It only works in the movies
Trailer burns when woman uses gas t
Man dies trying to beat train in Sa
BBQ Whippits
Sledding Accident
Two men burned in backyard blast
Miner nearly crushes himself
A fool and his bike
The Widow Maker
Redneck Bee Exterminator
Too Close For Comfort
arrange your own hit
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A tough act to swallow for student
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Drove 2.5 miles on the wrong way
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Departing parted
I'm dying for a drink
Smoking related near miss
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Man's death linked to cotton swab u
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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
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Man dies trying to beat train in Sa

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/08/MN5KUV6HD.DTL

(02-08) 14:16 PST SAN LEANDRO -- A 22-year-old man was killed in San Leandro when he apparently tried to beat an Amtrak train across the tracks but didn't make it, police said today.

The northbound train was crossing Hesperian Boulevard at Springlake Drive around 8:05 p.m. Thursday, police Sgt. Randy Hudson said. Witnesses told police that the man had been walking north along the east side of Hesperian and tried to cross the tracks after the railroad crossing arms went down and the lights were flashing.

"He started running around the arms to make it across the tracks," Hudson said. "It looks like he was trying to beat the train. The train was going 76 mph, and I think he just underestimated the speed."

The man had identification from Florida, but police believe he had an address in the South Bay, Hudson said. Authorities are not releasing his name until relatives are notified.

Submitted on 02/08/2008

Submitted by: Jessica
Reference: San Francisco Chronicle 02/08/08

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

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>> Moderator Scores <<

James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
While grade crossing accidents are generally too common, what I like about this one is as follows: Firstly, it's simplicity and the fact that the victim was a pedestrian. Secondly, the fact that he was initially walking (which rules out his being in any particular hurry) and suddenly made the brilliant decision to run AFTER the gates were down. I wonder WHAT he was thinking! Finally (and most importantly), the fact that an Amtrak train traveling 76 mph would pass in literally three to five seconds. I know I could have waited for that train! The sudden lapse in judgment is what puts this one ahead of the pack. I wonder what my fellow mods will think! Thanks, Jessica!


Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common
This sounds to me like a classic train/pedestrian accident which happens literally hundreds of times a year in the US alone. I really don't see anything here that makes it stand out compared to all those other crossing accidents.


Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I agree with James that this one is on a different level than most train deaths. Thanks, Jessica


Darwin Awards III: Survival of the Fittest

Hardback. 304 pages. Autographed.
$15
The human race's most popular humor series returns with a brand-new collection of macabre mishaps and misadventures. Honoring those who improve our gene pool by inadvertently removing themselves from it, the Darwin Awards III shows once more how uncommon common sense still is.

Salute the sheriff who inadvertently shot himself--twice! Witness the insurance defrauder who amputated his leg with a chainsaw! Heed the story of the farmer who avoided bee stings by sealing his head in a plastic bag! Cringe at the man crushed by a branch he'd just severed... directly over his head!

123 new stories, 18 full-page illustrations, plus discussions of transgenic animals, the origin of life, and more.

Autographed by Author!

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