Davis G G, Alexander C B, Brissie R M
University of Alabama at Birmingham and Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner Office, USA.
Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1997 Dec;18(4):363-8. doi: 10.1097/00000433-199712000-00010.
A retrospective computer search of the records of the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner Office covering the 15-year period from 1981 to 1995 revealed 86 cases in which either a train caused death or in which a body was found dead by the tracks. The average age of the decedents was 39 years (range, 3 weeks-87 years). Men accounted for 88% of the deaths. The manners of death were as follows: three natural, 64 accident, seven suicide, six homicide, and six undetermined. Six decedents were found dead by the tracks, but death was not caused by a train. Six decedents were railroad employees who died on the job. In 47 cases, the decedents were trespassing on railroad property. Five trespassers were riding the rails, and 42 were pedestrians struck by a train. Motor vehicle collisions with trains claimed 27 lives--19 drivers and eight passengers. All together, 45% of the decedents were intoxicated. Intoxication was greatest by far in individuals witnessed to have been lying on the tracks before being hit by a train. The nature of individuals riding the rails has changed in the past few decades. Freight trains today are being used by illegal immigrants as transportation within the United States. The majority of traffic fatalities occurred because the driver intentionally tried to beat the train to the crossing. These drivers were seldom intoxicated, and only two were teenagers. Lives of such impatient drivers might be spared by the installation of a crossing guard-rail that cannot be circumvented.
对杰斐逊县验尸官/法医办公室1981年至1995年这15年期间的记录进行的回顾性计算机检索显示，有86起案件，其中要么是火车造成死亡，要么是尸体在铁轨旁被发现死亡。死者的平均年龄为39岁（范围为3周 - 87岁）。男性占死亡人数的88%。死亡方式如下：3例自然死亡，64例意外死亡，7例自杀，6例他杀，6例死因不明。有6名死者是在铁轨旁被发现死亡，但并非火车致死。有6名死者是铁路员工，死于工作岗位。在47起案件中，死者是擅自进入铁路区域。其中5名擅自进入者是扒乘火车，42名是被火车撞到的行人。机动车与火车相撞导致27人死亡——19名司机和8名乘客。总共有45%的死者处于醉酒状态。在被火车撞到之前被目睹躺在铁轨上的人当中，醉酒情况最为严重。在过去几十年里，扒乘火车的人的性质发生了变化。如今，货运火车被非法移民用作在美国境内的交通工具。大多数交通事故死亡是因为司机故意试图在火车之前抢过十字路口。这些司机很少醉酒，只有两名是青少年。安装无法绕行的十字路口护栏或许可以挽救这些不耐烦司机的生命。
