When researchers and social media loudmouths evaluate the quality of life in a given city, one of the factors that almost always counts in a city’s favor is access to public transportation. In many American cities, especially in the sprawling West, you are stuck at home twiddling your thumbs if you do not have a car, because there are no buses or trains, and it is too hot outside to walk long distances. Whether it is a subway, a trolley, a streetcar, a monorail, or an above-ground railway, public transportation increases community and affordability in the city it connects.
Commuter trains prevent many more accidents than they cause. It is less dangerous to ride a commuter train when you are tired, drunk, or glued to your phone than it is to drive a car in such a state. Likewise, cars must constantly navigate turns, lane changes, and intersections, providing ample opportunities for collisions, while trains simply travel a straight line along a rail. Despite this, train accidents can be devastating, and when pedestrians get hit by trains, it is even worse than pedestrians getting hit by cars. If you got injured in an accident where a commuter train played a role, contact a Santa Fe personal injury lawyer.
Pedestrian Tried to Cross Rail Runner Tracks During Evening Rush Hour
In December 2025, a Rail Runner train in Albuquerque struck a pedestrian during evening rush hour. According to witnesses, a man ran across the tracks, attempting to cross the tracks from west to east, near the intersection of Indian School Road and 2nd Street in northwestern Albuquerque, as the train was approaching. The train struck him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. News reports did not indicate his name, age, or any other information about him. There were 37 people on board the train at the time of the accident, but none of them sustained serious injuries.
Trains Striking Pedestrians Should Be a Never-Event
This is not the only time this year that a pedestrian has been killed by an oncoming train in New Mexico. In June, a Union Pacific train struck a pedestrian who was trying to cross the tracks near Alamogordo. In this case and the case involving the Rail Runner train in Albuquerque, questions arise as to how pedestrians were able to get so close to moving trains. Especially when trains run their entire routes in heavily populated areas, there should be barriers that make it difficult for people to walk near train tracks when trains are nearby. The safeguards that are present near designated rail crossings should also be present near other parts of the track.
Contact Slate Stern About Commuter Train Accident Lawsuits
Slate Stern is a personal injury lawyer who represents plaintiffs injured in accidents involving pedestrians getting hit by commuter trains while attempting to cross the railroad tracks. Contact Slate Stern in Santa Fe, New Mexico, or call (505)814-1517 to discuss your case.
Sources
https://www.koat.com/article/rail-runner-train-involved-in-a-fatal-crash-with-pedestrian/69666491
Photo by Scott Elkins on Unsplash