Austin News
Updated: Sunday, 28 Nov 2010, 10:54 PM CST
Published : Sunday, 28 Nov 2010, 8:13 PM CST

Production comes 2 months after student’s death

Two months after a deadly South Austin train accident killed a 16 year old Crockett High School student some of his peers have a project to raise awareness about safety around train tracks.

The train hit and killed James Hinojosa while police say he was walking on the tracks near Crockett High. Students at the school are making a public service announcement about train track safety.

If there’s any doubt about the dangers around railroad tracks, one just has to look at this memorial cross on Stassney near the spot where a train hit and killed a Crockett High School student in September.

Now other students are taking part in a video project to educate all students about railroad safety.

“It’s something that happened really close to home. It’s something that affected a lot of people,” said Freshman Danielle Fee.

Students still miss seeing 16 year old James Hinojosa in the halls of Crockett High.

“It was really tough for the whole school even for people that didn’t know him, it was really tough,” said Junior Estefania DeLeon.

Hinojosa died walking along the tracks near the school. Railroad officials said he was wearing headphones when the train came around a corner from behind him.

To prevent another tragedy like the death of Hinojosa, these audio visual production students are creating a public service announcement about railroad safety that will air on the school’s news program.

“It’s really important because it can happen to anybody even if they don’t think it can,” said DeLeon.

Using information from Operation LifeSaver, a non profit that aims to reduce collisions, injuries and fatalities on train tracks, the students recorded proper ways for crossing tracks, explained why it’s illegal to trespass or walk on them and urged people not to be distracted by headphones or texting near tracks.

“I hope people like they think more about what they’re doing when they are close to tracks,” said Freshman Breanna Escobar.

The students learned valuable lessons during research for the project.

“There’s not a set time for the trains to come they can come anytime,” said Fee.

They want their PSA to make a lasting impression on others.

“A lot of people don’t see any danger in walking on the tracks or playing around the tracks but it really is a big danger,” said DeLeon.

According to Operation LifeSaver about every 3 hours a train hits a person or vehicle. The students hope their PSA reminds their peers to be careful.