By Nicole Falco
Kevin Brown's tragic death prompted Lynbrook residents and politicians to advocate for fencing around the easily accessible Long Island Railroad tracks located in a wooded area known as Wilcox Alley behind Leaman Place. Eight years before the July 14 tragedy, two teenagers, Michael Sangimino, 18, of Lynbrook, and Stephanie Ginis, 16, of Garden City, were struck and killed by a westbound train as they sat on the tracks only several dozen yards from where Brown, 10, died. Residents' pleas for a fence were not heard following the teenagers' deaths in 1994.
This time Lynbrook's campaign for fencing was a success, but LIRR has always maintained that education is the number one method of preventing railroad track deaths.
Each year, LIRR and the MTA bring their "Tracks Program" to as many as 150,000 students in Nassau and Suffolk counties and eastern Queens. According to LIRR, presentations have been made 28 times in Lynbrook schools and organizations and 45 times in Valley Stream schools and organizations during the past five years. Immediately following Brown's death, LIRR personally urged schools in Valley Stream and Lynbrook to make the "Tracks Program" a priority in the new school year.
"They've been regular visitors [almost every year]. There are times when we have approached them. This time they contacted us over the summer indicating they would be willing to present their safety program," said Dr. Edward Fale, superintendent of schools, Valley Stream School District 24.
Since September, MTA Police detectives such as Mark Landro have been speaking to local students non-stop about safety issues, including the dangers of throwing objects at passing trains, placing items on the tracks, safety at railroad crossings, platform safety and the fabled third rail.
On Oct. 29, Landro offered lessons in safety to students at District 24's William L. Buck School, where Brown had been a student, in three morning assemblies. At least five of Brown's friends were excused from the assemblies because of the emotional strain the talks might have caused them, Fale said. Fale said a number of students continue to meet with school counselors and social workers to discuss their response to Brown's death. Landro had previously visited the Brooklyn Avenue School and the Robert W. Carbonaro School.
When he introduced Landro to the fourth, fifth and sixth graders gathered in Buck's gymnasium, Principal Albert Arnone alluded to Brown's death and stressed the importance of the program since "we live with the railroad every single day within our community."
In speaking about the dangers of the third rail, which carries a 660 volt charge 24 hours, seven days a week, Landro told the youngsters, "That is one of the reasons why we are here today...unfortunately, sometimes it takes an incident like [Brown's death] to make us aware of the danger that is up near the railroad tracks."
Following Landro's talk students watched a video, "David's Run," which tells the story of the death of a teenage girl who had been carelessly playing on railroad tracks with her brother. Younger students watch a video more suited to their age. Students were also invited to ask questions. One youngster poignantly asked, "Why didn't they [the LIRR] put the fence up eight years ago?"
Keep in mind
n The following are a few of the important topics MTA Police Detective Mark Landro spoke about during his presentation at the William L. Buck School:
n According to national statistics, across the country a person dies in a railroad related accident every 90 minutes.
n Trains, made up of between 8 and 12 cars, weigh more than one million pounds, usually travel at 60 to 65 mph, and require at least a quarter mile to make a complete stop. A quarter mile is equivalent to the length of six football fields.
n "You will never hear a train coming if it's coming from behind you," according to Landro.
n There are three safe places to cross railroad tracks: at a designated railroad crossing, over a pedestrian bridge, and through a pedestrian tunnel. It is against the law to be on railroad property other than at those three places and, of course, waiting on a train platform to board a train.
n Lights at a railroad crossing will begin to flash when a train is scheduled to pass. Once they flash, gates will come down and a train will pass within 18 to 30 seconds. "Never walk around those gates, they always remain down for a reason," Landro said.
n The third rail is active 24 hours, seven days a week and carries a charge of 660 volts.
n For every set of tracks there is a third rail, which usually sits off to the side of the tracks and is covered by a gray board. "If you are crossing the tracks, where you are supposed to be, you will never come in contact with the third rail," Landro said.
n "Stoning," which means to throw any object at a train, and "placing debris' on tracks are not only dangerous, they are also illegal.
n It is always dangerous to play on train platforms.
