Voltage turns man atop Acela into conductor

[afigg]

He survived, as far as I see it he's a lucky man. Booze can make you survive just about anything. ^_^

He suffered horrible life altering injuries, losing an arm and a leg and undergoing numerous surgeries. I doubt he sees himself as "lucky". He got drunk and did something really, really stupid. Whether the platform area should have been more secure or whether Amtrak and the MBTA have some liability in what happened, that will be for the jury to decide (or for the parties to settle).

As for the suggestion that he should sue Yale for not teaching him about the dangers of getting drunk, Yale does have far deeper pockets than Amtrak with a $35+ billion endowment. But I would venture that Yale does have posters and safety programs advising students about the dangers of heavy drinking which probably give them a degree of protection from such lawsuits. Which of course is a reason to have such safety educational programs. If he were to sue Yale for not teaching him about the dangers of getting seriously drunk, on those grounds, he could possibly sue his parents, his high school, and even his friends for not either warning him sufficiently or not stopping him from getting drunk and getting hurt. Which probably not get very far in court...

 

[Ryan]

I just can't believe that this happened 10 years ago and is just now coming to trial.

 

[Acela150]

I just can't believe that this happened 10 years ago and is just now coming to trial.

I can.. They let Tom Brady off the hook and then reinstated his suspension.. That happened 1 1/2 ago.. Proof that America doesn't care about things like this.

 

[Thirdrail7]

If this case has dragged on for this long without a settlement, he's probably asking for an arm and a leg.

 

[SarahZ]

If this case has dragged on for this long without a settlement, he's probably asking for an arm and a leg.

Oh my god... ^_^

 

[Ryan]

 

[NW cannonball]

Why not sue Yale for not teaching him that getting drunk is hazardous to one's health?

 

[Asher]

[quote name="Crispy Critter. I have been burned over 45 % of my body with 3rd degree burns.

I hate it when that happens.

I

 

[OBS]

"....asking for an arm and a leg..." , now THAT is funny.....JMHO....

 

[Acela150]

If this case has dragged on for this long without a settlement, he's probably asking for an arm and a leg.

 

[SP&S]

Though I wish him no harm, I hope his case is toast.

 

[SP&S]

Is this the oldest legitimately resurrected thread in history?

 

[Hal]

Case dropped. After Judge ruled Amtrak could introduce that he was drunk and reckless.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/queens-man-electrocuted-acela-train-drops-case-amtrak-article-1.2621705

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Thanks for the update. Sounds like everything ended just as it should have.

 

[jis]

"....asking for an arm and a leg..." , now THAT is funny.....JMHO....

Apparently the only thing this Yale Architecture graduate genius had to get reconstructed is his *****. I wonder how he got it damaged.

 

[Cina]

"....asking for an arm and a leg..." , now THAT is funny.....JMHO....

Apparently the only thing this Yale Architecture graduate genius had to get reconstructed is his *****. I wonder how he got it damaged.

(how was this cartoon allowed on TV when I was a kid?)

 

[Trollopian]

Slurry, with a singe on top?

 

[MARC Rider]

Case dropped. After Judge ruled Amtrak could introduce that he was drunk and reckless.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/queens-man-electrocuted-acela-train-drops-case-amtrak-article-1.2621705

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I think Daily News writers need some English lessons:

"Queens man who electrocuted himself after climbing atop Acela train drops case against Amtrak"Where I come from, use of the word "electrocuted" implies that the person involved is no longer living.

And Webster seems to agree with me: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electrocute

 

[FormerOBS]

Good point. According to Google, Merriam-Webster says "to kill (a person or animal) by electric shock."

What I really want to know is how the heck did he get up there in the first place? I know he was drunk & doesn't remember it, but I don't understand how anybody --- even a drunk person --- could think the top of a train is a good place to be, electric or not. It seems a lot like trying to ride in the firebox of a steam loco.

Tom

 

[Thirdrail7]

The definition of this word has been amended over time by its usage.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/electrocute

verb
[with object]
Injure or kill someone by electric shock: a man was electrocuted when he switched on the Christmas tree lights

A further explanation:

Usage notes

Formally, the words electrocute and electrocution always imply fatality. Informally, however, these terms are rather often used to refer to serious but nonfatal electric shocks. Strictly correct usage is to reserve electrocute and electrocution for fatal electric shocks, and to use shock or electric shock for nonfatal ones.

I think Spock would agree with your position of literal meanings.



The rest of us get the message.