Teens were waiting for freight train to pass — they likely never heard Amtrak that killed them

WOODLAND, Cowlitz County — Two Woodland teens who were killed by a train Tuesday evening had unknowingly stopped in the path of an oncoming Amtrak passenger train while waiting for a much-louder freight train to clear the tracks, Cowlitz County authorities said.

Edward "Eddie" Denson and Katelen "Katie" Blacklaw, both 15 and freshmen at Woodland High School, were struck and killed about 7:10 p.m. on a double-tracked section of BNSF Railway near Woodland.

Cowlitz County sheriff's Capt. Mark Nelson said the teens had stopped on one set of tracks to wait for a southbound freight train that was passing on the other tracks.

They had their backs turned to a northbound Amtrak train and didn't react when an engineer sounded the train's warning whistles.

It's believed the teens couldn't hear the warnings because of noise from the much-louder freight train, Nelson said.

"Honestly, it doesn't appear these kids had any idea this Amtrak was coming," Nelson said.

The Amtrak was traveling 75-79 mph, Nelson said, and the engineer or conductor attempted to brake upon seeing the teens. The speed limit is 79 mph.

Sheriff's investigators are inspecting computer readouts from the train in order to record the speed, whistle length and emergency stop procedures, Nelson said.

On Wednesday, grief counselors were on hand at Woodland High School. School officials said it was too early to say whether a memorial service would be planned.

The tracks are on private property owned by BNSF. Pedestrians aren't allowed to be on or near them, and doing so is considered trespassing, except at crossings. Even standing near a fast-moving train can result in being sucked under its wheels.

The railroad berm there is about 15 feet high, said railway spokesman Gus Melonas.

Melonas said the train fatalities were the second and third this year in Washington. The first happened in Vancouver in February.

About 50 trains operate on the line each day, Melonas said.

Nelson said one of the teens lived close to the tracks and the two were attempting to cross.

The tracks were closed for nearly four hours following Tuesday's accident.