Here is something in support of the New York City Law pending re: prohibiting talking on cell phones while crossing a street. If people such as Zacariah Smith don't quit helping ... we could be doomed as free citizens. No, I don't support any such laws.

This is an honorable mention as so far he's only in serious condition. I'll put further comment in the article's text below:

"Officials think that Zachariah Smith was so engrossed in sending a text message Monday that he didn't notice a train - until it hit him as he crossed tracks in Elmwood Place.

Smith, 18, was on Township Avenue about 10 a.m. Monday waiting to cross the tracks. The gates were down to allow a CSX train to continue its southbound route."

Editor: Over 17, did not check both ways, so far no mention of alcohol or drugs ... looks like a good honorable mention so far. However, with condoms being passed out in schools far more often than bibles are, procreation is hard to rule out.

"When that train passed, Smith, apparently too intent on texting, was hit by a northbound Norfolk Southern train that he didn't see coming from the other direction. He was thrown about 50 feet.

Smith was taken to University Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition.

'The only way the train could have missed him was if it could make a turn,' Elmwood Place Mayor Richard Ellison said Monday. Ellison arrived at the scene moments after Smith was hit.

'There were five witnesses. I talked to three of them myself,' Ellison said.

They told Ellison that Smith looked as if he was using his phone to send a text message and didn't see the onrushing train.

'The horn was blowing like mad, and the kid was text-messaging,' Ellison said.

'The kid apparently was just daydreaming.'

Officials suspect that Smith confused the horn and noise made by the oncoming train with that of the train that had just passed him heading south."

Editor: No excuses, this was probably his girlfriend and she must be mighty hot for him to not be paying sufficient attention in order to make sure he survived to see her again.

"Deer Park's Mike Billups saw the train hit Smith, knocking him through the air and, at least at first, knocking him out.

'Initially, I thought he had cleared the train until I saw (Smith) from underneath the train lying on the ground,' Billups said.

When Billups ran to Smith, he was unconscious, but soon regained consciousness.

Ellison said Smith appeared "a little roughed up" with a nose bleed, bump on the head and some scratches.

There had been "practically no" incidents at that railroad crossing Ellison said. The crossing is maintained by Norfolk Southern and had all gates and lights in working order, police said."

Editor: Don't blame the safety systems put in place by well-intended railroad safety specialists. Darwin Contenders usually aren't paying attention and go to unusual lengths to prove it. A curious rule I learned from engineering in safety during my work on the F-18 Radar Test Station from one of my managers "You can't engineer something to make it idiot-proof. Someone will figure out how to injure himself."

Well, I can only guess at the messages coming to his phone after the sudden interruption of his last send: "Zach ... you there? I was only kidding about not seeing you tonight," or some such. I don't know, as I don't text-message, if the phone operates audio at the same time. (And I'm an engineer!) My excuse is I'm 54 and text-messaging is SO not geriatric. But I'm thinking if it could be on and WAS, that had to be one heck of an impact on the OTHER end of the line.

I can only guess what he has to say to his girlfriend now. Maybe he was teasing her about not meeting? He may have an argument on his hands.

From what I can see in the article, this was in broad daylight, he's qualified by age, qualified by stupidity and there are witnesses to prove the last qualification. He's an HA, no doubt about it.

Submitted on 08/21/2007

Submitted by: Michael Durthaler
Reference: Cincinnati Enquirer, Front Page, 21 Aug 07

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
While we already have this story, this write-up is detailed and comprehensive with original commentary. Thanks, Michael!

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
This is the most detailed version of this story so far. Thanks, Michael.

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