| Alcohol contributed to teen's death, says NTSB |
By: SUZANNE ROOK, Managing Editor
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Posted: Friday, March 20, 2009 5:02 pm
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NORTHFIELD —A report issued last week found that by failing to follow a conductor’s instructions, Northfielder Natalie Smead contributed to her own death.
The eight-page report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board said that on Aug. 5, 2006, Smead, 18, fell through a nearly eight-inch gap between a Long Island Rail Road commuter train and its platform while exiting the train. After falling to the ground, she reportedly failed to follow instructions from the conductor to remain still while help arrived.
Instead, the report said, Smead, in an “alcohol-impaired condition,” crawled under the platform and into the path of an oncoming train.
Smead, who had planned to attend the College of St. Catherine, was taken to the hospital where she later died.
Toxicology reports showed Smead’s blood alcohol level was .23. Witnesses at the scene said Smead and many in her group brought alcoholic beverages on board and were drinking on the train.
Following the accident, the railroad began an awareness campaign to alert passengers to the varying gaps between train doors and platforms. It also reduced gaps between trains and platforms greater than 10 inches wide, is adding two-inch thresholds on all passenger train cars and will more thoroughly review “gap incidents.”
— Suzanne Rook can be reached at srook@northfieldnews.com or 645-1113. |
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Was this really necessary to report?
Why not? It's news is it not? It was news when New York City was thought to be at fault for their platform design millions of people cross every day. In any event, it is news that should inspire kids not to drink and when they are of age, not to drink to excess.
I wish that the paper had also mentioned the contents of an article published in the (Mpls) Star-Tribune yesterday (3/25). That article contained comments by the family's attorney arguing that the NTSB report was incomplete. According to the attorney, the report failed to mention that amid the confusion on the train platform, there were also spectators screaming and yelling advice to Natalie, including some who encouraged her to crawl to the other platform, where the accident occurred. This was a painful article to read, and while I know that newspapers can't exclude the sad items, I wish the Northfield News article had been more complete--it would have had less of a blame-the-victim tone, and more of an acknowledgement of the tragedy that a young woman's mistake, in combination with unexpected and unfamiliar circumstances can lead to.
This article is ridiculous and seriously incomplete. Ramsauer, you're also ridiculous. Kids will drink regardless of stories because many people can't learn from other people's experiences and need to have their own. When you reduce a death to an anti-alcohol inspiration it shows just how ignorant and self-centered you really are.
I agree with it's incompleteness. Printing something without getting the entire story from Natalie's parents and/or attorney blames the victim. This is a prime example of 'spin'. Pull out the negative, spin it and leave out the rest of the story - the truth - and get more readers. Not only are you pointing fingers at the victim, but at her parents, who I happen to know are good people. I suggest you do a follow-up with the whole truth in it.
If they want to make something out of this terrible tragedy, and that is what it was, they need to take a different approach. Stop denying the involvement of alcohol in the accident. How would it look to ignore the fact that someone who died in a car crash was drunk driving? Its time that people make this out to what it really should be, an issue of responsibility. It was irresponsibility coming from a number of areas that lead to Natalie's tragic death. It was irresponsible of the kids to be drinking, irresponsible for the people around them to let them do it, irresponsible of the parents in the same respect.
Yes, Observer23, you are completely right. I hope all the self-righteous are happy now.
I agree with Observer 23. I personally knew Natalie, she was a friend of mine and I feel it wasn't necessary to write such a cold-hearted article about Natalie. This article makes her look like a drunk, which she wasn't. Ramsauer, I know you think that in an ideal world, this story would inspire kids to not drink, but this is not a perfect world. Kids are going to do what they want, and sadly, the world is not the same as it was even 5 years ago. More kids are drinking and partaking in dangerous behavior at younger and younger ages. I have friends who are student teaching, and one of their 13 year old girl student's is pregnant. Those who knew Natalie and were close to hear knew the possible truth to this story long ago, it didn't need to be published for those who are just going to judge.