what happened: Two guys play a game of who crosses a train-railway just before a passing train on his motorbike the latest ... not surprisingly both are touched and killed by the train.

This happened in germany (berlin). It is posted on the offical police report website of the berlin police dep.. Here is the link (text is in german, obviously): http://www.berlin.de/polizei/presse-fahndung/archiv/44554/index.html

The text together with my translation (in brackets []): ------------------------- 18- und ein 19-Jähriger aus Köpenick kamen gestern Abend gegen 22 Uhr 20 in der Köpenicker-Allee im selben Bezirk ums Leben.

[A 18. and a 19.-year old from Köpenick [region of berlin] died yesterday evening [news is from 22.07.2006 9:20 am, so evening of 21.07.] around 10:20 pm in the köpenicker-allee [a street name] in the same region [meaning: Köpenick].]

Die beiden jungen Männer hatten mit ihren Motorrollern zunächst vor den geschlossenen Schranken eines Bahnüberganges in der Nähe des S-Bahnhofs Wuhlheide gewartet.

[The both young man did wait with their motorcycles [vespa-size] initially in front of the closed gates of a railroad crossing in the visinity of the station named Wuhlheide.]

Als sich nach kurzer Zeit ein Zug näherte, fuhren beide los um die Schienen noch kurz vorher zu überqueren.

[As - after a short time - a train approached, both started driving to get over the track just before the train passed.]

Der Zug erfasste die beiden jedoch und schleuderte sie zur Seite.

[The train however hit both of them and hurled them to the side.]

Mit schwersten Kopfverletzungen starben beide noch am Unfallort.

[With heaviest head-injuries both died just at the scene.] ---------------------

Couldn't find any other source, but thats not surprising since it happened yesterday and was posted by police on sunday(today). But i think some newspapers around here will pick it up maybe tomorrow. Anyway whats more offical than a police report on their own website..?!

So give these guys what they have earned: a Double Darwin Award... ;-))

best regards from Berlin, tom

Submitted on 07/22/2006

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: police website, 21.07.2006

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I'll bite. Playing "chicken" is one thng, but playing chicken at a grade crossing is another! While some may find grade crossing accidents too common (and under the usual circumstances of one person wanting to beat the train, they are), I find that grade crossings can be an excellent venue for ever more creative ways of stupidly doing oneself in! I'll vote DA!

Fitzroy said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I agree with all James wrote. Playing around in front of moving trains is far too common. However, the specifics of this incident cause it to stand out from the pack. So I figure it does deserve consideration on down the line.

Jorge said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
Needs a better write up

Sheryl said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
Thanks for the submission. As has been said, train crossing fatalities are very common but this one is a bit out of the ordinary. Two people, guarded crossing, and judging from the cause of death, no helmets of any type. (I don't know if moped riders require helmets in Germany ... I suspect not.)

Becky said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
Needs more information.

The Darwin Awards Gift Shop

The Darwin Awards Condom Keep yourself out of the gene pool! A condom in a matchbook, useful for emergency contraception, bachelor parties, frat parties, and important rites of passage. LOADED inside and out with funny quotes and stories. Everyone loves this item! Friends don't let friends reproduce! $13 for Pack of 4