Three teenage girls, Essa Ricker, Kelsea Webster, and Savannah Webster lost their lives in 2011 in the worst way possible.
The three friends, two of whom sisters, decided to snap a selfie for the social media by some train tracks in Utah’s scenic Spanish Fork Canyon. What they weren’t aware of was that a locomotive was coming up behind them.
Until they realized what was going on, they got hit.
John Anderson was operating the eastbound Union Pacific train when the incident occurred. Engineer Michael Anderson was also on board. When he spotted the girls, he blasted the train’s horn in order to get to their attention, but without success.
“They were in their own little world,” John recalled.
“We watched in horror as we got closer. We saw them for about 12 seconds until they disappeared from our sight and the train continued moving forward.”
Once they were able to stop the train about a quarter mile down the track, John got off and rushed towards the girls’ direction. He found Essa and Kelsea dead, while 13-year-old Savannah was still alive but badly injured.
“I told her everything would be OK and she relaxed a little. I hoped she would make it and for some reason I really thought she would.”
Unfortunately, her injuries were too severe. She sustained a dozen broken bones, internal bleeding, and a severe brain injury.
Savannah died three days after the train accident at a hospital.
“We spoke to the doctors today and they informed us that Savvy’s brain injuries were too great,” Savannah’s mother wrote on her blog, per the Daily Mail. “Even though they’ve had done everything possible, Savannah will not be able to recover any further.
“We will keep her on life support till the end of the day, but it’s time to say goodbye, for now, to an angel that walked among us.”
Just moments for her death, Savannah posted to her Facebook page: “Standing right by a train ahaha this is awsome!!!! [sic]”
John and Michael, both fathers to teenage daughters, were devastated by the train accident.
“What happened was very intense and I have to carry it the rest of my life,” said Michael. “I don’t know what John saw that night and I don’t want to know what he saw that night.”
Kelsea and Savannah’s mother, Jayna Webster, said her daughters’ deaths were preventable.
“No one should have to go through this, and I hope people will seriously think about the campaign’s rail safety message and share it with their loved ones.”
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