N.C. Teen Hit, Killed By Train While Listening To Music
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

CRAMERTON, N.C. -- Josh White Phillips, 16, had a passion for music, and friends said Tuesday they believe it was that passion that kept him from hearing the train that took his life.

“That was his way of getting along with God, through his music,” said Darin Gibbs, the teen’s youth minister.

He said Phillips wrote Christian songs for his band, Chaos of Creation.

“It's just amazing that's how he went, listening to music that was helping his relationship with God,” Gibbs said.

Phillips had his MP3 player on Monday afternoon as he walked home from South Point High School. As he walked down the train tracks that lead to his Cramerton home, the engineer in the train coming up from behind blew his horn, but the teen didn't respond, and the engineer couldn't stop the rolling freight train fast enough.

Phillips’ mom said she told him before school she would pick him up. She said she knew he walked the tracks sometimes and didn't like it. But friends said as much as Phillips loved music, he also loved walking.

Band member Anthony Pullen said he can image the cheerful teen on the tracks.

“He was a popular kid in school. Everybody liked Josh,” he said. “He was dancing on the tracks more than likely. That sounds like Josh.”

He too said music was Phillips’ ministry. He said the band was trying to teach other teenagers that their faith is nothing to be ashamed of.

this happens more often than people know. i've worked on lawsuits like this one before

folks: NEVER walk down train tracks. it isn't safe.

Thats really sad

But...

Why was he walking down train tracks, and why was his music up so loud?

I keep my mp3 player on most of the day, but I can still hear the world around me

XxAxX said:

Not only is it not safe, you're breaking the law by trespassing.

Walk on tracks and you're just asking to be killed. You have no right to be there.

Sad story.

I like how the media so blatantly puts the blame on one factor in the situation, while hardly acknowledging others

thekidsgirl said:

What other factors?

JustErin said:

the whole article is about the kids passion for music, and how he was listening to it probably dancing (read: distracted) but they just casually mention he was walking down train tracks which was the sillier move on his part

Sad

Happens often in these rural areas of NC as well

thekidsgirl said:

Oh, I see what you mean now.

I just don't get why they don't stress the dangers of walking on tracks (which I can NOT understand why people don't clue into this) and the fact that it's actually trespassing in articles like these.

I never use headphones when I run, bike or ski. There's something about not being able to hear cars or approaching people that freaks me out. I guess if I ran on a track, I could use an iPod.

Well, I have to be honest - I don't run and never will. But if I did, I wouldn't make myself deaf to the outside world.

But when I work out at the gym, I use my iPod at maximum volume.

How much could he really have been helping his "relationship with God" if God hit him with a train?

Mars23 said:

apparently it was a good, solid relationship. 415,000lbs solid...

Something similar happened to a friend of my daughters, very sad



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[Edited 11/12/08 10:39am]

veronikka said:

One of my coworkers lost her 12 year old son because the friends he was with were goofing off. He ended up under the train So so sad. If you live near train tracks drill it into your kids head til they vomit from hearing it.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

This one was similar in that her friend was also listening to his MP3 player while riding his bike and was struck by a big rig while riding home