Family blames Metrorail for accident

[John Ashworth]

'Metrorail is to blame for accident'

January 06 2009 at 04:42PM
By Thandiwe Mthethwa
iol.co.za

The devastated family of 14-year-old Elisha Pillay are still battling to come to terms with her death after she was killed by a train after an outing.

The young girl of Montford, Chatsworth, and her 29-year-old cousin, Ramona Pillay, who is recovering in Chatsmed Hospital, were hit by a train after a picnic at Rocky Bay on the south coast on Sunday.

Elisha's uncle, Nico Maharaj, who saw the accident, blames Metrorail because he feels the driver did not signal in time.

"The girls were on the side of the train when they got pulled onto the track by the force of the train because of its speed. We managed to pull Ramona away, but it was too late to save Elisha. We feel Metrorail is to blame because the train hooted too late and the crossing has been neglected. There are no boom gates or pedestrian signs," he said.

When the Daily News visited the Pillays at their home, friends and relatives had gathered to console the family.

Ramayi Pillay, 62, Elisha's grandmother, could not speak because she was overcome with grief at the loss of her only granddaughter.

Warning

Metrorail spokesperson, Thandi Mkhize, said the train had followed the correct warning procedure and unfortunately the train could not stop.

"The train did hoot as usual to warn cars that are on the level-crossing of its approach, which is the proper protocol. The problem is that people misjudge the speed of the train, thinking they will make it across and it ends tragically, as in this case," said Mkhize.

Maharaj said the family would draw attention to the state of the level-crossing to ensure that no other lives were lost there.

"We want to make sure no other family loses their loved ones because this is not the first incident. We are devastated and outraged because we have lost a child and nothing can bring her back," he said.

Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the incident.

[John Ashworth]

The problem is that people misjudge the speed of the train, thinking they will make it across and it ends tragically

Sadly this is often true. As footplate crew on a steam engine I can attest personally how frightening it is to see the way the public treat level crossings and the approach of a train, whether they are on foot, on a bike or in a car. And following reports of level crossing accidents in the UK, where there is almost always a knee-jerk reaction from the popular press that the railways must be to blame, it would seem that in most cases it is the same problem - people don't realise how fast the train is travelling nor how long it takes a train to stop.