After tragedy, Bernalillo wants fence along tracks

BERNALILLO (KRQE) - Two weeks after the train accident that killed a high school student in Bernalillo, city officials are proposing an idea that they say could help prevent another tragedy.

But it would come with a high price-tag that the state would have to approve.

Fifteen-year-old Jose Angel’s death left the town shaken but also angry, because it wasn’t the first time the train that runs through town killed one of their own.

Now, the Mayor wants a four-foot high fence built along the tracks to try to prevent another tragedy.

“Frankly, I think it shook all of us up, myself included,” said Mayor Jack Torres. “That's when we decided we really needed to see if we could come up with something that would minimize the chances of that happening.”

The city is asking for $250,000 from the state to fund a 2.5 mile fence and designated walking path along the tracks in Bernalillo. The fence would only be four-feet tall.

“It will not ensure that we'll never have another accident, but we feel it will go a long ways towards deterring anyone from ending up in the situation we had a couple weeks ago,” Torres said.

Police now believe Angel was walking along the side of the tracks, not crossing them, when he was hit by the train going 79 miles per hour.

“If a kid has to think twice - if anyone has to twice about climbing over the fence to play on the track or cross it - it might prevent them from doing it,” said Bernalillo Police Chief Julian Gonzales.

The fence would have four designated pedestrian crossings complete with safety gates. 

Right now, the town only has designated crossings for cars, but none for walkers.