Posted by Details, a member of the Palo Alto High School community, on Feb 19, 2013 at 12:46 am

If this occured "near Homer Avenue" it was probably at the downtown station rather than "near Churchill" as described in the subtitle. Either way, it is another tragedy and so sad for the hopeless person, the people who knew him, and the train engineer.

Posted by Hm, a resident of the Charleston Gardens neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2013 at 2:06 am

The accident happened right behind Town and Country near Paly. I am pretty sure that is closer to Churchill than the downtown train station.

Posted by Details, a member of the Palo Alto High School community, on Feb 19, 2013 at 2:37 am

Correction: It's between the downtown station and Churchill. The person would have had to jump a fence to get to the tracks.

Posted by Concerned parent, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2013 at 7:07 am

Are you kidding the fence does not need to be jumped. It is as high as mm knees, and on the North side of Churchill, the is no fences at all, only bushes. I do not know how many people Caltrain wants to see die in order to put a fence just like on the Charleston and Meadow side. I have brought it up to the attention to Caltrain and other groups, but nothing happens they just put some patches on the little fence. Yes I hope it is not a depressed child. My prayers go to the family.

Posted by Parent, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2013 at 7:24 am

Everyone is someone's child regardless of age. I wish we would stop limiting ourselves when it comes to dealing with depression. My heart foes out to the family.

Posted by Paly Parent, a member of the Palo Alto High School community, on Feb 19, 2013 at 7:25 am

Two Palo Alto students from the same class took their lives at Churchill and also behind T & C back in the early 00s. Now the area behind T & C is frequented by the homeless and also an area where drugs are dealt. I wonder if this poor victim was someone who was high on drugs or alcohol, who just wandered off the path falling onto the tracks.

Whatever the reason, it is not a good thing for students on their way to school this morning who have to cross at Churchill.

Posted by Paly Parent, a member of the Palo Alto High School community, on Feb 19, 2013 at 7:27 am

I should also say that my sympathies go out to the poor victim's loved ones and also the driver of the train.

Posted by Parent, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2013 at 8:21 am

I've asked this before - why don't we put hightech "airbag" bumpers on trains? If it hurt bad but didn't injure or kill, maybe people would stop using the tracks that way. If you make it more difficult for people to act on impulse, studies show they are likely to reconsider.

Posted by Needs Fixing, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2013 at 8:40 am

The fact that people still have to wonder/fear that it may be a stressed out kid from one of the local high school's is telling.

The pressure that is still placed on these PA kids is insane. People's minds have become drunk w/ competitive academics, so much so that they have tunnel vision. A sole focus on academics: perform, perform, perform! "A "B" is as good as an "F"". Some will flourish, but there is a damaging cost for the whole.

I'm so sorry kids. No wonder I hardly ever see you smile anymore.

Posted by Observer, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2013 at 8:58 am

Parent, Perhaps this is not the place to keep making that same suggestion. I believe air bags would be used if they were effective, but you can go and make your suggestion to the people who work with, know about, and could potentially do something about these things. Caltrain meetings are open to the public. See their schedule here - Web Link

If you sign up for the chance to address the board, you will be given a chance to speak in front of everyone. They have heard the airbag suggestion before, so if you have some new research or a new design that works, they'd probably appreciate it.

Posted by blondie, a resident of the Palo Verde neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2013 at 9:38 am

The sad loss of life of a young man. My heart goes out to his parents/family members who are no doubt agonizing over this tragedy.

Posted by KP, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2013 at 10:22 am

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Posted by KP, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2013 at 1:00 pm
KP is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

Really?!? I guess the truth hits reality. Whatever.

Posted by isez, a member of the Palo Alto High School community, on Feb 19, 2013 at 1:54 pm
isez is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

There's a lot of pressure to succeed. How did this person know of the entrance? I wonder if he attended Paly.

Posted by vwflat4driver, a resident of Stanford, on Feb 20, 2013 at 5:05 pm
vwflat4driver is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

The victims of this incident are not properly told in this article. The victims are the people who had to clean up this mess. The train crews that had to witness the incident. The same crew that are required by there own operating rules to find the body after impact. The police and coroner. [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.] This happened 400 foot past the stanford train passenger platform and i'll remember it for the rest of my life!