Tue, Jun 14, 2011 page2

• Earphones led to train death, police say

  MUSIC’S SIREN CALL: A steam whistle on a train has a volume of more than 80 decibels, but with headphones, external sounds must be at least 110 decibels to be heard

  • By Chen Wen-chan and Huang Hsu-lei / Staff Reporters
  • • 
    • 
    • 

  A preliminary investigation by police has determined that a woman who was run over by a train in Greater Kaohsiung on Friday morning was taking a shortcut across the railway and had earphones on.

  The 37-year-old woman, surnamed Chiu (邱), was moderately mentally challenged and had amblyopia, the loss or lack of development of central vision in an eye that is unrelated to any eye health problem and is not correctable with lenses.

  A report by railway authorities said Chiu was listening to a portable CD player as she attempted to cross the railway tracks under Cheng Yi Road and National Highway No. 1.

  

  The scene of a fatal accident in which a woman was hit and killed by a train as she crossed the tracks in Greater Kaohsiung is shown on Friday. It is believed she was listening to music and did not hear the train’s whistle.

  Photo: Chen Wen-chan, Taipei Times

  The 44-year-old conductor of the Chukuang Express, which left Greater Kaohsiung at 6:15am, first saw her at a distance of about 150m at 6:21am.

  Despite repeated warnings by pulling on the steam whistle and slamming on the emergency brakes, Chiu was looking forward as she crossed railway, the conductor, surnamed Chang (張), said.

  Chang said that given the speed of the train, a buffer zone of about 200m would have been needed to avoid a collision.

  Despite the brakes, the train ran into Chiu six seconds later and killed her, Chang said.

  Evidence gathered at the scene showed Chiu had sustained severe injuries to her head and multiple bone fractures.

  A pair of earphones, a CD player that had popped open and a bag were scattered on the ground nearby.

  Testimony from three eyewitnesses confirmed that Chiu had walked across the railway.

  Chiu’s mother insists that her daughter would not have committed suicide and police have concluded that the accident was likely the result of Chiu’s amblyopia and her listening to music at the time of impact.

  Eyewitnesses, who were teaching a dance class not far from the railway, said Chiu stood on the tracks for about 20 seconds and had stopped and backed away a few steps when someone screamed at her not to walk there, but she then resumed walking.

  The Greater Kaohsiung section depot station said steam whistles on trains have a volume of more than 80 decibels.

  Chiu had reportedly not seemed to hear the whistle because of the music she was listening to.

  This is something that had never happened before, the depot station said.

  Yang Juei-lang (楊瑞朗), a physics teacher, said the normal volume in a student’s earphone was between 60 and 70 decibels, -because any sound above 70 decibels would cause severe irritation of the ear canal.

  When wearing earphones, external sounds must be at least 110 decibels to be heard, Yang said, adding that the distance between Chiu and the train would also have had an impact on her ability to hear the warnings.

  Another train was dispatched to the scene to complete the journey, the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) said, adding that eight other trains, both northbound and southbound, were delayed for as much as half an hour.

  The tracks were not cleared until 7:10am, causing delays for more than 1,000 people, the TRA said.

  TRANSLATED BY JAKE CHUNG, STAFF WRITER
• Most Popular

  • 1

    Napoli’s title hopes shaken by late Genoa equalizer

  • 2

    Privately owned city in Kenya taking on corrupt officials

  • 3

    MOE to encourage foreigners to work in Taiwan

  • 4

    Kane tastes first title as Bayern bid farewell to Mueller

  • 5

    Former president Tsai departs for Lithuania