Charles Darwin's Darwin Awards 
HOME
Darwin Awards
At-Risk Survivors
Slush Pile
2008 January Slush
(UL)Roping A Deer
(Hmmm)Tiger, not lion, kills 1, injurs 2
(DA)Slippery When Wet
(DA)Pulled into the abyss
(Hmm)White Spirit IS Flammable
(?)VA Man Shot to Death While Beating
(DA)Not a Shred of Sense
(DA)Chest Piercing Electrocution
(?)Un-happy slapper
(?)Need for Speed
(?)Great Balls of Fire!
(?)Had big balls.
(?)Rich and Overconfident
(DA)Sneaking Across
Conveyor belt outlasts runner
(?)Let Me Get a Better Look!
(DA)A series of Im-Pined Events
(HM)Home Made IED
(?)Graffitists drown in storm drain
Skier dies after triggering avalanc
Do-I-Yourself Shock Therapry
MANS BEST FRIEND???
Rafts, Rivers, Cement and Bridges
Woman attacked twice by shark
Picnic Lunch
Holy Flaming DOH!
gangsta guns & fireworks don't mix
The high cost of gas
Police: Man Shot Himself In Genital
Auger to Heaven
Drunken driver saves beer
(NO)Disabled man turned himself into hu
Miami of Ohio University...
(?)Jumbolair Airborne BMW
Fire up the BBQ !
(several)
Man stabs self while fleeing
The Faster Method
Kinky Sex, Shocking Death
highway worker nearly earns award
Reverse Mohawk
1 shoot closes slaying case
Grafitti Vandals Drown
When Couch Potatoes Take Root.
two for one
dangerous mixture
Is half a Darwin better then none?
Do Tell
Drowned pair 'spraypainting inside
Man Shot Himself In Genitals During
Explosive Military Intelligence
Men shoot themselves in tattoo atte
Making Deadly Gas at Home
German man goes out with X-mas Tree
vodka+viagra death
Fake hanging becomes all too real
Death by Exploding toilet
Down the drain!
Pneumatic Nail Gun Surprize
One sleeper too many on rail tracks
Man Killed in Backyard Explosion
What was he doing up in that crane?
Semi-Conductor
That is one Fowl Shot
diver drowns for golf balls
Metal fence gets revenge
Burning Pants
Police Break in?
Killer Drill
Go Get the Lawnmower
Next Time Buy a Ticket!
dumest showoff driver ever
Couldn't wait to get down and party
Truck-a-Luck
dangerous dog food
They Ain't no Bo and Luke Duke!
The Blue - Handed Pikeman
Un-happy slapper
Driver found unbuckled in crash, bu
Man Shot Himself In Genitals During
He now hates that 'Tom Tom' GPS!!!
A Crocodile Poacher gets scrambled.
Bare hand versus table saw
Drunken Phone Repair
Knife thief stabs self during getaw
Belly dancing through traffic
Who knew trucks were heavy?
Man held by ankles to snap photo
Super Glue Eye Drops
Eagle explosion
Cutting up a Napalm Bomb
Escalator Misused
Flash Powder near miss
Log Jamming
Driver requires GPS Train-ing
elevator surfer
Two men dead after swimming in drai
New year buffaloe ride
freek accident
Rest in Peas
Bike VS. Train
Is Arthur still going to heaven?
Slow Learner
Hangings should never be mocked up
Strong finger for firing a pistol
unsuccessful robber shoots self in
The Death of Deadtown
Don't want to fall out of this bed!
Abused car strikes back
Goat Overcomes Man
New years Nose Ring In Brain
Dog Love
Homosexual Couple Hospitalized
Listen to your parents!
Run over getting the bins in
Man breaks neck in pool accident
Older Slush 
 
~ Random Story ~
Email Alert!
NEW! Gift Shop
Rules  Search
Contact Darwin
Submit a Story
Philosophy Forum
Home

  

Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Driver requires GPS Train-ing

2007 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

This is not a "true Darwin but is worthy of some note...JK

http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/NEWS01/801030409

BEDFORD HILLS - An out-of-state driver's blind trust in his rental car's global positioning system device led to the fiery crash that stranded Metro-North Railroad commuters for hours last night, officials said today.

Metro-North's Harlem Line trains were back on schedule this morning, after crews spent hours repairing more than 200 feet of tracks damaged by the crash, said Dan Brucker, Metro-North spokesman.

An unidentified 32-year-old Sunnyvale, Calif., man was driving west on Green Lane around 7 p.m., and told Metropolitan Transportation Authority police the GPS system instructed him to turn right as he was crossing the tracks.

He got stuck, tried unsuccessfully to reverse and finally abandoned the 2006 Ford Focus minutes before it was slammed by a northbound Metro-North Harlem Line train, MTA police said.

"As the car is driving over the tracks, the GPS system tells him to turn right, and he turns right onto the railroad tracks," said Dan Brucker, Metro-North spokesman. "That's how it happened."

Brucker added, "He tried to stop the train by waving his arms, which apparently was not totally effective in slowing the train."

No one was injured, but about 500 passengers were stranded for more than two hours and 250 feet of electrified third rail was damaged. Three trains out of Grand Central Terminal were canceled and 10 others delayed by up to 90 minutes. The damage was repaired by 2:30 a.m..

The driver, who works for a Silicon Valley computer tech company, had rented the car from U-Save Car & Truck Rental in New Windsor, N.Y. He was not familiar with the area, and was therefore relying on the GPS device's navigation instructions, officials said.

"One computer brain listening to another," Brucker said, chuckling, this morning.

The man had not been charged with any violations as of late last night, but will be held liable for the damage to the train and track, as well as other costs and loss of revenue, Brucker said.

Submitted on 01/03/2008

Submitted by: John E. Kelly
Reference: Lo-Hud.com 1/3/2008, story by Nicole Neroulias

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

Awful? 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Great?
Hate it! Love it!
>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: No Self-Selection
Thanks for an interesting story, John, but as he got out of the car minutes before being struck by the train I don't see any self-selection here. People do rely too much on technology these days though. I once saw a boater run is boat onto rocks for exactly the same reason - "but my GPS told me to turn left here".


Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Good thing the GPS didn't tell him to turn left when he was on a bridge. Yeah, he was able to abandon the car in time, but that's why it is an HM instead of a DA here. Moral: "turn right" does not necessary add the word "NOW!" Thanks, John


James said:
Definitely Toss: No Self-Selection
I know that area (about 35 miles north of NYC) and it IS confusing! Hell, if upper Westchester County is confusing to a native New Yorker like myself, I can only wonder how confusing it must have been for our victim! Furthermore, there are numerous grade crossings and very often side roads dead end at the tracks. Had he been a local, he'd DEFINITELY receive an HM, but I'm willing to forgive an out of towner who probably paid extra for the GPS in his rent-a-car! Thanks just the same, John!


Shadow said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
I vote HM, even if he was not from town, listening to your GPS that seriously just isnt bright... as it was said he is lucky he wasnt on a bridge or in a tunnel! Thanks John!


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

 

 

Slush Pile
Slush Pile Rejects

HomeRulesFAQsAwardsSlushSite Map
DarwinAward | HonorableMention | PersonalAccount | UrbanLegend