LAPEER COUNTY The accident happened around 7 this morning at a railroad crossing near Third
and Handley in Lapeer County's Imlay City.
Tomas Rodriguez was a student at Imlay City Middle School.
The family of the 11 year old is simply devastated. The father arrived at the
railroad crossing just moments after the terrible accident.
The Imlay City Police Department told ABC12 that Tomas was walking to
school around 7 this morning. When he arrived at the railroad crossing near
Third and Handley, Police say another boy had already crossed when Tomas tried
to do the same.
At the same time, an Amtrak train was moving through the intersection and hit
the 11-year-old boy.
Investigators say the bells were ringing, the lights were flashing and the arms
were down at the time of the accident. There was also a car parked at the
crossing waiting for the train to pass.
"If the arms are down, don't cross. Time is what you have the most of. It's not
worth it, not worth it," said Lt. Roger Czap of the Imlay City Police
Department.
The middle school where Tomas was a student called an in crisis management team
to talk to students.
Neighbors who often saw Tomas walking to school are shocked and
saddened by his death.
From her porch, Darlene Brown could watch Tomas walk to school.
"I see him and his friends walking past the house every single day," Brown said.
On Wednesday, instead of seeing him in person, she saw his picture on the news.
"And then I seen his picture. I could not believe it. Heartbreaking," she said.
"I feel bad for the parents, I feel for them and the little boy," said Lucy
Racine.
Racine says she has often seen children try to beat the train. "Be careful, look
both ways, do not try and beat that train. You can hear that train blowing," she
said.
As for Brown, she hopes some good will come from this tragedy and maybe another
child's life will be saved.
"It better wake them up. When kids are walking, they walk for blocks and blocks
and you don't know what is going to happen," she said.
A school bus aid who knew Tomas says he was a quiet, polite child. We have also
learned he played football for the Imlay City Storm.
