Two Teens Die Crossing Norfolk Southern Trestle
According to the article, others have died along the railroad tracks in eastern Montgomery County.
In October 2005, David Wayne Hale, 45, of Elliston was struck and killed along Old Roanoke Road. In September 1998, Jeffrey Thomas Williams, 17, of Shawsville was struck at Stoneskeep Road in Elliston. And in August 1994, 17-year-old Kenneth Johnson,was struck nearby. Johnson's legs were amputated and he suffered head injuries; he died several days later.
In another news account, a 2007 plan called for trail amenities for the corridor which would have included a path for crossing the river where the accident occurred but. The plans were never implemented.
According to the RT article,
Advocates are not giving up on the vision for eased mobility in Elliston.
County officials cited the conditions under which trails could go in.
The plan is "our future guide for trails within the villages if and when we have developers willing to develop, grants or county dollars," county Planning Director Steve Sandy said by e-mail.
A newly hired Department of Conservation and Recreation steward, Wes Paulos, was by coincidence at Pedlar Hills on Friday "getting oriented and looking at signage and access points," Woodall said.
To develop the state property for public visitation would be "an awesome thing," said Mitchell Haugh, the county's director of parks and recreation.
"But it takes money."
In this section of track the major Crescent and Heartland Corridors meet.
If we were to take a small portion of the state and federal money going to upgrade these corridors to include safe and convenient trails, perhaps this tragic story wouldn't need to be repeated again and again.
