Local man killed by light rail train at 42nd St.

by Tesha M. Christensen

An Ericsson resident became the 10th person to die after being struck by a light rail train in Minnesota.

The Blue Line along Hiawatha Ave. opened 10 years ago in June 2004.

According to John Siqveland of Metro Transit, Michael F. Kwosek, 62, was walking westbound on the southern side of the gated intersection at 42nd St. when he was struck by the braking southbound train at about 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014.

Kwosek was six blocks from his home on the 4200 block of 30th Ave. S.

The gate arms controlling the intersection were in the lowered position, and the train came to a stop a short distance beyond the intersection after striking the man.

The light rail line was closed and buses were brought in to transport rail passengers between Franklin and Fort Snelling stations until about 7:50 p.m.

According to Siqveland, of 10 fatal accidents since the Blue Line opened, five have involved pedestrians; four have involved motorists; and one has involved a bicyclist.

“This is the only pedestrian accident at this location,” stated Siqveland. “In September of 2004, motorist Hilmer Iverson, 87, drove through a gate arm at this intersection and his automobile was struck by a southbound train.”

Metro Transit Police, as well as Metro Transit’s Rail Safety division, are investigating the incident.

LIGHT RAIL VS. AUTOS

“Fatalities and crashes in this mode of transportation are rare, but they do happen,” observed Mantill Williams of the American Public Transportation Association. “There’s no mode of transportation that is risk free.”

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, fatalities on light rail lines over the last 15 years has ranged from a low of 13 in 2002 to a high of 33 in 2009.

There are 27 light rail lines in United States, and several get added every year, according to American Public Transportation Association Director of Policy Development and Research Darnell Grisdy.

He pointed out that the vast majority of deaths on light rails lines are suicides.

In comparison, 40,000 people a year died in automobile deaths, said Grisdy.

“It’s the safest mode of travel,” Grisdy remarked.

This story appeared in the February 2014 edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.