HAYWARD, Calif. -- A woman was struck and killed by a Capital Corridor train in Hayward when the dog she was walking dragged her onto the tracks and into the path of the oncoming locomotive, according to authorities.

The fatal accident took place just hours after a pedestrian died from being struck by an Amtrak train in Berkeley.

According to Alameda County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. J.D. Nelson, at about 2:15 p.m. two people with a dog were attempting to cross the tracks ahead of an approaching train just north of the Hayward Station near the intersection of West Blossom Way and Meekland Avenue.

"The crossing guards were down. The gentleman was able to make it through," Nelson explained. "She tried to stop, realizing she probably couldn’t make it and the dog dragged itself and her into the train."

Amtrak's Capitol Corridor train No. 535, bound for San Jose, was likely traveling at approximately 70 miles per hour when it struck and instantly killed both the woman and the dog, a pit bull.

Nelson said the woman, in her early-to-mid 30s, was unable to simply let the dog go because of how she had the leash wrapped around her hand.

A number of distraught family members were on the scene of the crash early Thursday evening. Family members identified the woman as 31-year-old Vida Silver. Relatives told KTVU Silver and the 100-pound pit bull named Mama were inseperable.

"Her dog was her baby. Everywhere she went, the dog went," said Silver's cousin Tonya Neves. "The dog was always there."

Since I live in Hayward I know exactly where that is, when I first go married, we lived in an apartment about 100 feet away from that crossing.....someone is getting hit and killed by a train at least once every month or so somewhere in Hayward.

Further south that same track line runs right by a High School (Tennyson) and in the last 4 years 2 students have been hit and killed.

Ther are Amtrak trains that pass by on that line several times a day (going about 70 MPH) and several freight trains share the same line also.





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[Edited 6/5/09 7:43am]

bad time to make a cesar milan joke huh

Why do people go around safety barriers? What makes them think they are just sooooo special that the rules of safety and common sense don't apply to them?

Seems like some less than shining decisions were made here, but sad nonetheless.

Genesia said:

I think in this particular case, it was the dog, not the woman that went around/through the barrier.

And I am very familiar with that area, the "barrier" only consists of two crossing arms that go down and only block the traffic from the street. The rest of the track is wide open with no barriers for miles.

Genesia said:

imagine how the man must feel, knowing that the dog wanted to follow him.

why don't people ever think before they do stupid shit like this?

I was gonna say too that she should have let the dog go.

wildgoldenhoney said:

but she had the leash wrapped around her wrist so she couldn't
get it loose in time.

IstenSzek said:

I wonder if she had to have it wrapped like that in case it wanted to try and attack.

I hate pitbulls.

Imago said:

anywhere I ever see them they are status symbols for scumbags. I rarely see one as a loving domestic pet. Maybe things are different in Topeka, but here in So Cal the story is 99% the same.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

My friend Dan had a really sweet one. Her name was Diasey!!
She was basically a lap dog and followed him around everywhere.

He went on vacation a couple of years ago and during the vacation Daisey mauled his roomates ex-girlfriend's face.

I hate pitbulls. Fuck that nature vs. nurture shit--those dogs are stupid and vile.

Imago said:

My friend's ex girlfriend, who was the bulldykest dyke you'll ever meet, had a pit named baby. The size of this dog's head was frightening. I was around him many times and he was very docile and very sweet. But she beat the living shit out of him if he got any way out of line. Not sure if that led to his sweeter/obedient nature or not.

Well she got him a playmate. A pit puppy and this dog was, I don't know, maybe 15 pounds or so and I was in the back room away from the rest of the group and this puppy, while very cute, was aggressive and I was watching TV and it started to want to play and I pushed her away and she must have taken that as interaction because she kept coming at me nipping and biting and she was trying to get at my face and I kept pulling my hands from her mouth as she bit me really hard a couple times and pulled on my hand. I seriously was scared at how strong that dog was and it was just a puppy.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Isn't your reaction kind of gay, though?

add another reason to why I have a cat...

Imago said:

refrains from making Michael Vick reference.....

IstenSzek said:

Didn't complete my thought,
I meant that at first that was my thought,
but when I read the article I read the reason why she couldn't to let it go.