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Man survives collision with train
Castle Rock police, firefighters and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad officials are investigating a collision Sunday between a northbound train and a car on the tracks as an attempted suicide.
By By: Kiersten J. Mayer
Castle Rock police, firefighters and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad officials are investigating a collision Sunday between a northbound train and a car on the tracks as an attempted suicide.
Luis Holguin, a 26-year-old Castle Rock resident, reportedly turned his red 1997 Dodge Stratus south onto the railroad tracks from Second Street about 8:15 p.m. Sunday and headed toward a 127-car BNSF train, said Castle Rock Police Department Sgt. Tim Ratcliff.
Two witnesses were stopped at the train tracks on Second Street and Front Street while the crossing arms came down, activating the intersection's warning bells and lights, Ratcliff said.
"They saw (Holguin) turn onto the tracks, turn off his headlights, drive for a short distance and come to a stop, waiting for the train," he said.
Engineers in the train saw the car on the tracks and started emergency braking procedures, he said.
"They were upset that someone would do that to them," he said.
Two witnesses told police the train locked up its brakes before it struck Holguin's vehicle, Ratcliff said.
Police Cpl. Ty Petersen said the train's brakes were applied about 534 feet before it plowed into the red sports coupe and pushed it for more than a block.
The rear of the vehicle apparently struck the railroad crossing warning light at Third Street, knocking it over, and careened off to east of the tracks, he said.
Holguin was taken to Swedish Medical Center by helicopter, but was conscious and breathing when paramedics and firefighters removed him from the vehicle, Ratcliff said. From indications at the scene, the train was apparently going under its 40 mph speed limit, he said.
Castle Rock Police Chief Tony Lane said the apparent deliberate nature of Sunday night's collision didn't have "anything to do with what happened two years ago," referring to a train collision that left Castle Rock resident Maureen "Missy" Martin severely injured.
As of Monday morning, Kimberly Langston with Swedish Medical Center said Holguin was not listed as a patient or as "confidential," which indicates he had been treated and released, she said.
Ratcliff said alcohol is suspected to have contributed to the incident but did not say what charges, if any, may be filed.
Castle Rock police were assisted in the investigation by the Parker Police Department, which brought laser measuring equipment to the scene, he said. Information is downloaded into a computer-aided drafting program, which creates a detailed, accurate map or diagram of the accident scene.
Lena Kent, BNSF director of public affairs, said the company doesn't have statistics for suicide by train because there is no definitive way of determining intent - whether a crash is deliberate, an accident or trespassing.
"An average train traveling 55 mph takes approximately a mile and a half - or 18 football fields - to come to a complete stop," she said.
The 127-car train involved in Sunday's crash originated in Trinidad and was headed to Denver, Kent said. It was delayed about four hours and caused a delay for a second train.
Contact Kiersten J. Mayer at kmayer@ccnewspapers.net.
Luis Holguin, a 26-year-old Castle Rock resident, reportedly turned his red 1997 Dodge Stratus south onto the railroad tracks from Second Street about 8:15 p.m. Sunday and headed toward a 127-car BNSF train, said Castle Rock Police Department Sgt. Tim Ratcliff.
Two witnesses were stopped at the train tracks on Second Street and Front Street while the crossing arms came down, activating the intersection's warning bells and lights, Ratcliff said.
"They saw (Holguin) turn onto the tracks, turn off his headlights, drive for a short distance and come to a stop, waiting for the train," he said.
Engineers in the train saw the car on the tracks and started emergency braking procedures, he said.
"They were upset that someone would do that to them," he said.
Two witnesses told police the train locked up its brakes before it struck Holguin's vehicle, Ratcliff said.
Police Cpl. Ty Petersen said the train's brakes were applied about 534 feet before it plowed into the red sports coupe and pushed it for more than a block.
The rear of the vehicle apparently struck the railroad crossing warning light at Third Street, knocking it over, and careened off to east of the tracks, he said.
Holguin was taken to Swedish Medical Center by helicopter, but was conscious and breathing when paramedics and firefighters removed him from the vehicle, Ratcliff said. From indications at the scene, the train was apparently going under its 40 mph speed limit, he said.
Castle Rock Police Chief Tony Lane said the apparent deliberate nature of Sunday night's collision didn't have "anything to do with what happened two years ago," referring to a train collision that left Castle Rock resident Maureen "Missy" Martin severely injured.
As of Monday morning, Kimberly Langston with Swedish Medical Center said Holguin was not listed as a patient or as "confidential," which indicates he had been treated and released, she said.
Ratcliff said alcohol is suspected to have contributed to the incident but did not say what charges, if any, may be filed.
Castle Rock police were assisted in the investigation by the Parker Police Department, which brought laser measuring equipment to the scene, he said. Information is downloaded into a computer-aided drafting program, which creates a detailed, accurate map or diagram of the accident scene.
Lena Kent, BNSF director of public affairs, said the company doesn't have statistics for suicide by train because there is no definitive way of determining intent - whether a crash is deliberate, an accident or trespassing.
"An average train traveling 55 mph takes approximately a mile and a half - or 18 football fields - to come to a complete stop," she said.
The 127-car train involved in Sunday's crash originated in Trinidad and was headed to Denver, Kent said. It was delayed about four hours and caused a delay for a second train.
Contact Kiersten J. Mayer at kmayer@ccnewspapers.net.
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