Train kills texter

Do not walk on railroad tracks while fiddling with your cell phone.

If common sense doesn’t convince you, then maybe this story will.

A 57-year-old man died after being hit by a train while simultaneously walking and sending a text message in Barangay Buli, Muntinlupa City late yesterday morning.

Case investigator PO3 Randy Rentillo identified the victim as Roberto Benito, married, and a resident of Block 16, Lot 9, Katarungan Village in Barangay Poblacion, Muntinlupa City.

An identification card recovered from Benito’s body by police showed he was employed at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) office in San Antonio Village, Makati City.

The Muntinlupa police investigation into the incident showed that the victim died around 11:30 a.m. in Purok 2, Barangay Buli.

Rentillo said Benito had been walking near the railway tracks and did not notice the northbound train rushing towards him.

Benito died on the spot after his head was crushed beneath the train’s steel wheels. According to Rentillo, Benito also sustained serious wounds and fractures after being struck by the speeding train.

Rentillo said the narrow spaces along the sides of the railway track might have prevented Benito from stepping out of the path of the oncoming train.

Witnesses also said the victim was busy texting on his cell phone when he was hit by the Philippine National Railways (PNR) train.

Rentillo said the PNR is not liable for the incident, since the mishap was the victim’s fault for walking on the train tracks, apparently while busy texting.