Greetings. I grew up in Essex. And though I did not attend Kenwood HS I do know the area and location of this tragic accident. People have been crossing those tracks for years, decades. Everyone down there knows not to, but I bet if anyone would visit that spot any time of the day, people will cross those tracks to visit friends, relatives, go to school, shopping, whatever. Amtrak has the right to say no as it IS their property, but why doesn't anyone in Md. DoT promote the building of bridges over RR tracks in suburban areas like Middle River/Essex (or Relay/St. Denis or Halethorpe) for safety's sake. The State's MARC trains use these tracks too. Granted, this effort would be grossly after the fact, but it would prevent another tragedy as this. Thank you.

Amtrak fatality causes a dead human being.

I grew up in the Essex/Middle River area. Lived on both sides of the tracks, went to Kenwood High School, and would constantly cross the tracks to go to the boys and gilrls club. My family also knew Anna and her family. We were nieghbors in Carrol Island. My oldest son went to elementry school with her. He was devastated when he heard the news. I think its about time the state steps in and does something before somebody else has their life cut short. Whether it be a crosswalk or barrier walls something has to be done. She was a sweet girl and will be missed our condolenses to the Stickel family.

Extremely sad event, but some of the blame has to go on the girl's parents for not telling her that you NEVER stay on train tracks.

Cross them if you absolutely have to, yes.... but NEVER walk down them following them ever.

I grew up in the Essex/Middle River area. Lived on both sides of the tracks, went to Kenwood High School, and would constantly cross the tracks to go to the boys and gilrls club. My family also knew Anna and her family. We were nieghbors in Carrol Island. My oldest son went to elementry school with her. He was devastated when he heard the news. I think its about time the state steps in and does something before somebody else has their life cut short. Whether it be a crosswalk or barrier walls something has to be done. She was a sweet girl and will be missed our condolenses to the Stickel family.

Posted by: Ben Douglass | January 6, 2010 3:23 PM
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Easy solution: a raised crosswalk like I saw one time over the train tracks in Aberdeen, Maryland to allow people to cross the train tracks without ever being anywhere NEAR the train tracks themselves to get hit.

Interstate highways are properly fenced paid by Feds;
so must be NE HS corridor. Amtrak be given resources to do so; no questions about it. Good civic duty that will create positive construction jobs; do not pass the blame, provide resources for Nations Infrastructure and not 3 trillion for wars & weapons!!