A 19-year-old was killed after he was struck by a goods train at Frasers, between Ballito and Tongaat, on Saturday afternoon.

The young man was found between the tracks and was pronounced dead on arrival by attending paramedics.

Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) interviewed the train’s locomotive engineer, who described the sad incident.

“He reported that the teenager was walking on the tracks when the train approached. Despite sounding the horn, the train was unable to stop in time. The young man turned around and raised his hands before being struck,” said RUSA spokesperson, Prem Balram.

Balram said it was unclear whether the young man intended to commit suicide or if he was otherwise impaired.

It was the second fatal train accident in the area in the last month, following the death of a 54-year-old man who was struck by a goods train on January 11.

He was reportedly trying to cross the tracks when he was hit.

Crossing railway tracks anywhere but at designated pedestrian crossings is illegal and dangerous. Even at crossings, stay alert and follow the rules of the road.

According to Arrive Alive, train drivers are at every incident severely traumatised since they are helpless and unable to stop the train in time.

The time it takes for a train to stop depends on various factors such as its speed, weight, braking system, and track conditions. On average, a passenger train may take about 1.6 to 2.4 kilometers to come to a complete stop.

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