Comments on: UPDATE: Man Hit, Killed by Train at McPherson Square Station, Likely Intentional, Delays Expected http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/03/13/person-hit-by-train-at-mcpherson-square-station-delays-expected/ 68.3 Square Miles of D.C. News and Opinion Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:19:23 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Richko http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/03/13/person-hit-by-train-at-mcpherson-square-station-delays-expected/comment-page-1/#comment-496764 Richko Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:19:16 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=18323#comment-496764 I was on the opposite platform and from the corner of my eye saw the man leap from the platform onto the tracks, which caught my attention. At first he appeared to be looking for something on the tracks but then went to the center rail and lay face up about 2 seconds before the train hit him. Mercifully for the witnesses on our side, both trains arrived at the same time, blocking our view of the impact (which I was turning away from when it became evident what was about to happen). It all happened so fast. At first it seemed like he was going to jump out as easily as he jumped down, but he made no attempt to escape. So sad. I'm still shaken. I was on the opposite platform and from the corner of my eye saw the man leap from the platform onto the tracks, which caught my attention. At first he appeared to be looking for something on the tracks but then went to the center rail and lay face up about 2 seconds before the train hit him. Mercifully for the witnesses on our side, both trains arrived at the same time, blocking our view of the impact (which I was turning away from when it became evident what was about to happen). It all happened so fast. At first it seemed like he was going to jump out as easily as he jumped down, but he made no attempt to escape. So sad. I'm still shaken.

]]> By: Cyndy http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/03/13/person-hit-by-train-at-mcpherson-square-station-delays-expected/comment-page-1/#comment-496649 Cyndy Fri, 13 Mar 2009 23:00:38 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=18323#comment-496649 I'm sorry, today has been very depressing for me and the combination of words in the headline temporarily put me over the edge. My mind immediately went to how awful it was that this guy was killed by a metro train and the two other possible implications of the word "intentional" really upset me. It was not clear in the original statement or in the header. I am not a person who makes assumptions. I get emotional when I hear about something that might be a suicide. I reacted accordingly. Sorry. Thank you Mark and Ryan for clarifying the use of this word in this particular situation. I'm sorry if I offended anybody. I'm sorry, today has been very depressing for me and the combination of words in the headline temporarily put me over the edge. My mind immediately went to how awful it was that this guy was killed by a metro train and the two other possible implications of the word "intentional" really upset me. It was not clear in the original statement or in the header. I am not a person who makes assumptions. I get emotional when I hear about something that might be a suicide. I reacted accordingly. Sorry. Thank you Mark and Ryan for clarifying the use of this word in this particular situation. I'm sorry if I offended anybody.

]]> By: Ryan J. Reilly http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/03/13/person-hit-by-train-at-mcpherson-square-station-delays-expected/comment-page-1/#comment-496612 Ryan J. Reilly Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:30:21 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=18323#comment-496612 Intentional is metro-speak for suicide, the spokesman would not use that word. What she meant was that the preliminary investigation indicated it was not an accident. Update from Metro's medialine: Further review indicated the person intentionally placed themselves in the path of the train. All trains were running in both directions as of 4:06 p.m. Intentional is metro-speak for suicide, the spokesman would not use that word. What she meant was that the preliminary investigation indicated it was not an accident.

Update from Metro's medialine: Further review indicated the person intentionally placed themselves in the path of the train. All trains were running in both directions as of 4:06 p.m.

]]> By: Mark http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/03/13/person-hit-by-train-at-mcpherson-square-station-delays-expected/comment-page-1/#comment-496527 Mark Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:30:01 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=18323#comment-496527 Metro spokeswoman Cathy Asato said the preliminary investigation indicates that the man was intentionally on the tracks. No additional information about the man had been released as of Friday afternoon. Metro spokeswoman Cathy Asato said the preliminary investigation indicates that the man was intentionally on the tracks. No additional information about the man had been released as of Friday afternoon.

]]> By: tony http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/03/13/person-hit-by-train-at-mcpherson-square-station-delays-expected/comment-page-1/#comment-496508 tony Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:18:29 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=18323#comment-496508 Cindy, why would the train hit him intentionally? i don't think trains can stop that fast for a pedestrian. I don't see anywhere in the article about someone pushing him down. are you just intentionally being anal about this? just go stop by McPherson Square Station, when everything's taken care of to answer your question to what exactly was intentional. Cindy, why would the train hit him intentionally? i don't think trains can stop that fast for a pedestrian. I don't see anywhere in the article about someone pushing him down. are you just intentionally being anal about this? just go stop by McPherson Square Station, when everything's taken care of to answer your question to what exactly was intentional.

]]> By: JR http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/03/13/person-hit-by-train-at-mcpherson-square-station-delays-expected/comment-page-1/#comment-496461 JR Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:50:54 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=18323#comment-496461 I've met people like you before...always nitpicking...someone was just killed and you are getting riled up because all of the information is not yet available...classic D-Bag I've met people like you before...always nitpicking...someone was just killed and you are getting riled up because all of the information is not yet available...classic D-Bag

]]> By: Cyndy http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/03/13/person-hit-by-train-at-mcpherson-square-station-delays-expected/comment-page-1/#comment-496422 Cyndy Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:23:03 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=18323#comment-496422 "It was intentional" What was intentional? The train hit him on purpose? Did someone push him intentionally? Did he intentionally inconvenience a whole bunch of people by committing suicide on the train tracks? What? They don't know his age but they do know that it was intentional. How? What if he didn't mean to fall on the tracks? If the guy is being described as a victim, then what happened to him was done intentionally? Who wrote this? Is this how reporters write? Was this vagueness intentional? I repeat...What exactly was intentional? "It was intentional" What was intentional? The train hit him on purpose? Did someone push him intentionally? Did he intentionally inconvenience a whole bunch of people by committing suicide on the train tracks? What? They don't know his age but they do know that it was intentional. How? What if he didn't mean to fall on the tracks? If the guy is being described as a victim, then what happened to him was done intentionally? Who wrote this? Is this how reporters write? Was this vagueness intentional? I repeat...What exactly was intentional?

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