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Case · South Korea

High school student wearing earphones killed by a train at a rail crossing

In September 2011, a 17-year-old walking home from school was hit and killed by a train at a rail crossing in Seocheon, South Korea. A friend who was there said the earphones probably kept him from hearing their shouts and the horn.

· 1 source

The old Janghang Station building on the Janghang Line (2007, file photo)
The old Janghang Station building on the Janghang Line (2007, file photo) Photo: 조사부장 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
When
Sept. 2, 2011, around 4:10 p.m.
Where
A rail crossing in Janghang-eup, Seocheon, South Korea, 700 m from Janghang freight station
Who
17-year-old high school student
Outcome
Died

Around 4:10 p.m. on Sept. 2, 2011, a 17-year-old high school student was hit by a locomotive at a rail crossing in Janghang-eup, Seocheon, and died at the scene. The crossing is about 700 meters from Janghang freight station, and he was on his way home from school.

A friend who was there told reporters:

"학교를 마치고 귀가하던 중 이어폰을 끼고 있다가 친구들이 부르는 소리나 경적 소리를 듣지 못하고 사고를 당한 것 같다"

"He was heading home after school with his earphones in. I think he couldn't hear us calling him or the horn." — the friend, quoted by Yonhap News (Sept. 2, 2011)

Police investigated the exact circumstances.

What this case shows

A train can't stop quickly at a crossing. Warning bells and the horn are the last signals, and earphones block exactly those sounds. Even without looking at a screen, blocked ears take away the chance to notice. Agree as a family that earphones come out near crossings and tracks.

Original reports

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