Train accident kills Willow boy, 13

July 17, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE\Frontiersman reporter

WILLOW -- An overnight fishing trip ended in tragedy early Friday evening when a southbound Alaska Railroad train struck two Willow boys who were reportedly sleeping on the track near the bridge over Willow Creek, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Troopers responded to a 6:24 p.m. call to an area near the railroad bridge over Willow Creek, near Mile 187 of the Alaska Railroad, to investigate a report of a pedestrian hit by a passing train.

Investigation revealed that the train struck 13-year-old Austin Webb and 12-year-old Michael Walker, both of Willow, as it was crossing the bridge over the creek.

Austin died. Michael survived, suffering minor injuries.

Trooper spokesman Greg Wilkinson, on Saturday, said the conductor of the train, which was heading to Anchorage, began sounding its whistle after rounding a corner and seeing the boys on the track.

"After blowing the train whistle, the conductor began emergency braking procedures after seeing the boys on the bridge," Wilkinson said. "He was pulling on the emergency brakes as hard as possible, but could not stop in time."

The boys had been camping out and fishing in Willow Creek since late Thursday evening.

According to Wilkinson, the two boys apparently walked up from the creek and laid down on the railroad tracks approximately 6 feet from the south side of the Willow Creek bridge.

Michael was able to escape the oncoming train, suffering minor scrapes and abrasions on his arms, but Austin could not.

The Friday night incident marked the first pedestrian-train collision since 1998, when an intoxicated person walked onto the track in Talkeetna during the annual Moose Dropping Festival, Wilkinson said.

There were no reports of injuries to tourists aboard the train caused by the emergency braking procedure. The train was delayed for approximately three hours before resuming its trip to Anchorage.

Darrell L. Breese may be reached at 352-2267 or darrell.breese@frontiersman.com