Bob CollinsA woman in California was pushing a stroller across railroad tracks when it got stuck. A train was coming. She got it unstuck and kept moving, but it got stuck again. This time she couldn’t get it free. She desperately pushed the baby out of the way, and was killed by the train.
It happened Saturday night in Riverside, California.
“She gave her life,” the baby’s father, Paul Dibene, said.
Commenters on the Los Angeles Times’ website were in no mood to pay respects to the woman, who obviously made a mistake:
This woman knowingly put her child in harms why by going around the Gates. This in itself does not make this woman a hero for saving her child, had she have lived she should have been charged with Child Endangerment. Noone should EVER walk around the gates to cross in front of a train, that is just STUPID. Would you drive around the gates? No, so why would someone walk? Is saving a couple of minutes really worth it? Think about it had she have not been so self centered and think her time was so important she would still be alive today. Think People before you act.
blammo13 at 6:53 AM October 10, 2011
The only positive thing is that this baby’s life will NEVER be put in danger by the mother ever again. Let’s hope the father has more brains.
Helpful at 5:58 AM October 10, 2011
That woman was an irresponsible idiot. First, she gave birth. Second, she pushed her child onto a railroad track after the oncoming train signal was activated. Darwinism in action. The only thing stupider than this woman is The Times headline, which suggests that the idiot woman was a heroine.
Even the Huffington Post, which fancies itself a more humane location on the web, took part in the serves-her-rightfest…. with one exception:
ENOUGH! Between this article, in which people are quick to list off the faults of the deceased mother and the article regarding the survivors of a boating accident that had to tread water for over twenty hours only to be immediately criticized for not using life jackets, i am disgusted by how easy it is for people to judge. For this particular article, I find it offensive that people are not able to simply realize that it is a tragedy that should not be dissected for what could have been done. It’s in the past; all that remains is a woman whose life was lost, and a family who no doubt wishes to grieve without hurtful and harsh comments of nameless, faceless bloggers. As for me, I’ll keep my judgements to myself and give my prayers to the family mourning a loss.
Last week, we applauded — correctly — the vision of a man who allowed us all to get on computers and communicate with each other. With his gift, we lost the knowledge of when to hold our tongues.
(h/t: Todd Nakanishi)
See also: The Serves ’em right society
