A 16-year-old girl likely didn't see or hear the freight train that struck and killed her because she was distracted by her phone and using headphones, said police in B.C.'s Fraser Valley.
Tiffany Williams was walking on railway tracks in Maple Ridge early Sunday afternoon when she was hit by an eastbound CP Rail train, said the B.C. Coroners Service.
"It appears she did not realize there was an approaching train," said RCMP Cpl. Alanna Dunlop on Monday. "Despite all the efforts to catch the teen’s attention and stop the train, it struck and killed the girl."
Police believe that Williams was wearing ear bud headphones, listening to music, and texting on her phone at the time, reported the Maple Ridge News.
Darrell Phillips, Tiffany's father, had a message for other kids, according to CBC News.
"Take your headphones out of your ears. Don't walk the tracks. Put [only] one headphone in," he said. "My daughter died because of this. So please... you do not want to do this to your parents."
A family friend has started an online fundraiser to help them with the financial stress of the teen's death.
In July 2013, Anita Lewis was hit and killed by an Amtrak passenger train while jogging on a pedestrian crossing over rail tracks in White Rock. She was wearing headphones at the time, and her death was ruled an accident, reported CBC.
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Tiffany Williams was walking on railway tracks in Maple Ridge early Sunday afternoon when she was hit by an eastbound CP Rail train, said the B.C. Coroners Service.
"It appears she did not realize there was an approaching train," said RCMP Cpl. Alanna Dunlop on Monday. "Despite all the efforts to catch the teen’s attention and stop the train, it struck and killed the girl."
Police believe that Williams was wearing ear bud headphones, listening to music, and texting on her phone at the time, reported the Maple Ridge News.
Darrell Phillips, Tiffany's father, had a message for other kids, according to CBC News.
"Take your headphones out of your ears. Don't walk the tracks. Put [only] one headphone in," he said. "My daughter died because of this. So please... you do not want to do this to your parents."
A family friend has started an online fundraiser to help them with the financial stress of the teen's death.
In July 2013, Anita Lewis was hit and killed by an Amtrak passenger train while jogging on a pedestrian crossing over rail tracks in White Rock. She was wearing headphones at the time, and her death was ruled an accident, reported CBC.
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