Fresno Neighbors Want Fence Around Train Tracks

A Fresno neighborhood is in shock after watching a 50 year-old woman get hit and killed by a train right in front of their homes. Police say the woman was hit and killed by the train Monday after trying to rescue a dog that ran out on the tracks. It’s the second deadly train versus pedestrian accident in Fresno this past week.

In Central Fresno homes are just feet from train tracks and tons of steel barreling through town. As a train was approaching Monday afternoon Fresno police say a dog ran onto the train tracks and survived, but the 50 year old woman trying to rescue it was hit and killed. This story haunts the neighborhood.

"I wonder what other little kid is going to get hit, or what other person is going to die by the train tracks," said Rosa Verduzco, who lives in a home near the train tracks.

Near Grant and Diana streets in Fresno residents share countless stories of lives lost on the tracks.

"Six years ago I lived right there, went grocery shopping and a teenage girl got hit by a train," said Verduzco. "This young fella’s mom lives down there and said somebody down there got hit by a train. One of these kid’s uncle got hit by a train right here. It happens all the time."

The kids who grew up here say watching the trains chug down these tracks for years, the danger has never been addressed.

"It’s pretty unsafe for our city not to care about how people keep getting hit and they’re not doing anything about it. They’re just leaving it there," said Celeste Magaña, who grew up in a home near the train tracks.

After another railroad death, residents want change.

"Now we just need a fence. Something to block from the kids going over there," said Verduzco. "Well it’s always brought up. Don’t go near train tracks, don’t go near canals because they are unsafe and some do have fences, but yeah we should put one up here," said Magaña.

City Councilman Clint Olivier says he plans to look into this issue right away. He anticipates the challenge may be over property ownership. Much of the land near the tracks may belong to the railroad company.