Pedestrians Must Do Their Part

* Re “Train Kills Girl Crossing Tracks,” (May 24):

Umberto Tepox, the father of the 12-year-old girl who was struck and killed by the train, feels the trains run too fast near McFadden Avenue in Santa Ana.

Slowing trains down will not prevent people from placing themselves in harm’s way to save a few precious minutes or seconds.

If we insist on requiring the trains to run slower along that section of track, let’s not just single out railroads. Look at the number of people who get hit by automobiles. Yes, we should insist that cars traveling on our highways assume a speed limit of, say, no more than 20 mph. That should go a long way toward preventing pedestrian fatalities.

While we’re at it, we should also insist that airplanes barreling down runways as they approach takeoff speed likewise slow down.

DAVID ARTHUR

Colton

* The death of Elizabeth Tepox when struck by a train in Santa Ana was a terrible tragedy.

The story is not accurate when stating a train traveling 79 mph takes three seconds to go the length of three football fields. Actually, at 79 mph the train covers only 116 feet in one second while the story would have the train going 300 in one second.

RON WOLFORD

Irvine

* Your article on the tragic death of Elizabeth Tepox could hardly be more complete or more fair. You are to be highly commended for this type of coverage.

Pedestrian safety in Santa Ana touches me directly as I drive Bristol Street from the “Orange Crush” to Costa Mesa several days a week to get to work.

The flagrant running of red lights and the jaywalking I observe are significant factors in the accident rate.

MARGARET HEULER

Anaheim