Long Recovery Ahead for Teen Hit by Train

Fayetteville, N.C. — A teenager hit by a frieight train is expected to spend several weeks in the intensive care unit of a Fayetteville hospital.

Police said Joshua Kosch, 19, was crossing the tracks Friday afternoon near the Hay Street Depot. He was trying to get to the Dickens Holiday Festival. His parents said they believe he was watching a train pass, and didn't see another train coming from the opposite direction.

“Because of the noise of that train, he did not even realize there was a northbound train coming on him,” father Dave Kosch said.

“Josh had been gone for such a long time. We couldn't figure out where he was at. To have a call like that, it's every parent's nightmare,” mother Barbara Kosch said.

Investigators said witnesses tried to get Kosch's attention, but he didn't hear them. When the train hit, Kosch became lodged underneath it.

He was rushed to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. He broke his arm, back, several ribs, punctured a lung and had his right leg amputated below the knee. Kosch was listed in critical condition Sunday night.

A spokesperson from CSX said the train that hit Kosch was traveling from Hamlet, N.C. to Selkirk, N.Y., near Albany. Since it was pulling 93 freight cars, it could have taken a mile or more for the train to stop.

The conductor did everything he could to avoid hitting Kosch, the CSX spokesperson said.

“I can only imagine the horror he must have seen not being able to stop that train,” Barbara Kosch said.

Kosch's family said they don't blame anyone for the accident. They are looking into how many police officers were directing pedestrians in the area. The Dickens Festival draws thousands of folks to downtown Fayetteville every year.

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I hope & pray that Joshua is ok - it is a miracle he survived and gets a second chance. I wouldn't recommend the train crew talk to his folks. These folks sound like they are looking for someone - anyone - to sue, not worrying about the healing of their son. People in America need to start taking personal responsibility for their actions and not expecting the government, police or taxpayers to hold their hands. The only way you get hit by a train is if you are on the tracks or right-of-way of the tracks. With the exception of designated crossings, you are trespassing on private property if you are on or near railroad tracks. With freight trains, it can take a mile to stop once you are spotted on the tracks. Your chances are not good. You would not walk onto I-95 without looking both ways. The same principle applies to railroad tracks. Life is too precious to be complacent. Look, listen and live. It only takes a moment.

ncsouthernbelle
November 26, 2007 11:04 p.m.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the 19yr old, his family, and the engineer etc. I can wonder what their emotions will be when they cross railroad tracks. Hopefully something good will come from this accident. The victim when he recovers can explain to schools and classes that railroads are private property and that you are trespassing when walking, riding, or standing along the rails or their right of ways. Also explain the dangers when you try to outrun a train or you simply don't pay attention. Thus he could possibly prevent another individual to suffer what has happened to all parties involved. Occasionally A&E does a documentary about railroad safety on one of the last clips, it showed an individual crossing 2 tracks, a second train approaching, the clip ends immediately. Thankfully this young mans story didn't end immediately.

eagle iis
November 26, 2007 5:42 p.m.

I have worked downtown for several years, I have seen people get way too close to the slow moving trains waiting for them to pass. Yes, he made an unfortunate mistake and he will pay the price of his mistake the rest of his life.Wish there was a way to fix the train situation in downtown Fayetteville, the trains stop while waiting for them to switch the tracks and it holds up car and pedestrian traffic. With more people visiting the downtown area, I could see where new people may get confused with the way the trains come through this area.

daisy
November 26, 2007 5:17 p.m.

Moral of the story - don't stand on the train tracks watching another train go by. Why? Because you just might get hit by a train coming down the tracks you’re standing on. Tragic - yes; idiotic - yes; totally avoidable - hell yes;