Near fatal accident on railroad bridge prompts public access restrictions

The Colorado Parks & Wildlife Department announced that the public is barred from accessing a railroad bridge near Hasty after a near-fatal accident.

BNSF Railway enacted the public access restrictions and will begin enforcing the railroad trestle bridge in the John Martin Reservoir State Wildlife Area, effective immediately. Fencing will go up with signs that say the public isn’t allowed on the trestle.

This decision comes after two fishermen were nearly killed by a passenger train on the bridge on June 8th. One man was hit by the train and sustained serious but non-fatal injuries. The other man jumped into the water.

The BNSF (Burlington Northern and Santa Fe) Railway Police note that the railway property has never been open to the public for fishing or other recreation. They will now enforce the restriction.