CA - Joyanna Harris, 8, killed after mom told her to crawl underneath a train, Fresno, 17 Dec 2018

[cybervampira]

Mom charged in daughter's death told girl to climb under train, police say

Fresno Police say the mother of the 8-year-old girl who was killed by a train in Fresno this week has been charged with felony child endangerment.

Police say 44-year-old Joy Collins was booked into the Fresno County Jail but has since bailed out.

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer says Joyanna's mother, Joy Collins, was afraid of missing their bus and told her two children to cross the tracks by climbing underneath the train which was stopped.

Her son made it through but Dyer said, "The daughter was reluctant at first but upon being encouraged by the mother to cross the track she, too, made her way underneath the railcar and attempted to get to the other side."

Police say the train had only stopped for a period of 12 seconds when it started up again.
Dyer says Joyanna was caught underneath and said the train dragged the 8-year-old for about 500 feet.

"The mother did run as it proceed southbound and at one point the train did stop again and she was able to pull her daughter out," he said.

Police say after speaking with Collins they learned this wasn't the first time she and her children had crossed over the train tracks.

"We arrested the mother for child endangerment but also we know that she is hurting," Dyer said.
Dyer says Collins has had prior contact with Child Protective Services in the past, though they did not go into why.

Police say due to this incident, Collins' 9-year-old son is currently with CPS.

Mother charged in 8-year-old daughter's train death

California mom who 'ordered her daughter to crawl under a freight train' is charged in girl's death | Daily Mail Online

8-year-old was urged by mother to crawl under train, cross tracks

Fresno mom arrested after 8-year-old daughter hit and killed by train

Mom booked in death of daughter, 8, killed by Fresno train

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1672857029481525

 

[ifindedout]

Collins sentenced to 6 years in prison.

California Mother Sentenced After Urging 8-year-old Daughter to Run Under Freight Train That Killed Her

A California woman will spend the next six years in prison after her daughter’s 2018 death, a Fresno judge ruled Tuesday. Despite an emotional plea for a probation sentence, Judge Heather Mardel Jones, unconvinced by Joy Collins’ downplaying her responsibility in her daughter’s death, sentenced...

www.crimeonline.com

Despite an emotional plea for a probation sentence, Judge Heather Mardel Jones, unconvinced by Joy Collins’ downplaying her responsibility in her daughter’s death, sentenced her to six years behind bars for child abuse and endangerment.

Collins said she regrets leading her 8-year-old daughter, Joyanna Harris, under a freight train, a decision that subsequently had fatal consequences.

[...]

Prosecutor David Devencenzi called on the judge to impose a 9-year prison sentence, arguing that Collins hasn’t fully accepted responsibility for her daughter’s death, Fresno Bee reports.

Defense attorney Mark Broughton asked the judge for leniency, citing Collins’ life challenges and trauma. Broughton advocated for probation, contending that Collins had already endured suffering.

 

[Goecke]

Blocked Crossings Force Kids to Crawl Under Trains to Get to School

When crossings are blocked for hours, kids risk their lives to get to school by crawling through trains that could start at any moment. Ambulances and fire trucks can’t get through. The problem has existed for decades. But it’s getting worse.

www.propublica.org

Here's a relevant article- This isn't an isolated incident, unfortunately. Granted, this particular train was only stopped for a few seconds as opposed to the hours mentioned in the article, but since the family had apparently done this before they were probably used to trains being stopped for much longer.
It's an infuriating issue that I'd never heard of before this. Kids shouldn't be risking their lives just to go to school.

 

[Goecke]

Also, does anyone know if the bus JC was worried about missing was a school bus or a public transit bus?

 

[ifindedout]

Also, does anyone know if the bus JC was worried about missing was a school bus or a public transit bus?

Based on reading the Bee article in the OP, from the time of day (5:48 PM) it would have to be a FAX city bus, route 01 which goes north on Abby and south on Blackstone, both one-way streets.

https://www.fresnobee.com/latest-news/article223271110.html
Joy Anna died just before 6 p.m. at North Diana Street and East Belmont Avenue as the family was traveling to a bus stop west of the tracks. The freight train slowed, and then stopped, blocking their path, and Dyer said Collins told the children to rush to the stop at North Abby Street and Belmont. The boy crossed through the train first, but Dyer said his sister was reluctant to follow. Collins reportedly shouted, “Hurry up.”

Location of accident

N Diana St · Fresno, CA

Fresno, CA

www.google.com

 

[TDoc72]

I think she should’ve gotten probation. She’s already mourning the loss of her child and now I wonder what’s going to happen to the other child. I just don’t think a lengthy prison sentence serves anyone here. It was a dumb mistake w/tragic consequences.

 

[Goecke]

Thank you ifindedout, that article was paywalled for me.

I genuinely don't know what to think- Was she negligent? Absolutely. Is 6 years in prison going to solve anything, or help get justice for Joyanna? I'm not sure, I'm leaning towards no. There's a much bigger societal issue at place here and that makes things difficult.

 

[LadyL]

Blocked Crossings Force Kids to Crawl Under Trains to Get to School

When crossings are blocked for hours, kids risk their lives to get to school by crawling through trains that could start at any moment. Ambulances and fire trucks can’t get through. The problem has existed for decades. But it’s getting worse.

www.propublica.org

Here's a relevant article- This isn't an isolated incident, unfortunately. Granted, this particular train was only stopped for a few seconds as opposed to the hours mentioned in the article, but since the family had apparently done this before they were probably used to trains being stopped for much longer.
It's an infuriating issue that I'd never heard of before this. Kids shouldn't be risking their lives just to go to school.

mothers shouldn't be endangering their children's lives to get them to school
go earlier or go a different way - figure it out

 

[Charlot123]

Thank you ifindedout, that article was paywalled for me.

I genuinely don't know what to think- Was she negligent? Absolutely. Is 6 years in prison going to solve anything, or help get justice for Joyanna? I'm not sure, I'm leaning towards no. There's a much bigger societal issue at place here and that makes things difficult.

Is she a single mom?

 

[ifindedout]

mothers shouldn't be endangering their children's lives to get them to school
go earlier or go a different way - figure it out

Actually, this was in the evening, so school was not the issue (see my reply to Charlot123 below). It's the ProPublica article which is about safe routes between home and school, in a different city. Which IMO are totally valid concerns, along with yours about leaving earlier (these are long freight trains, so there was no practical street alternative; the overpass seen in Google StreetView is the 180 freeway where no pedestrians are allowed).

Is she a single mom?

I get the impression that mom was providing what could best be described as afterschool sitting for her kids who did not actually live full-time with her. MOO ICBW

 

[LadyL]

Actually, this was in the evening, so school was not the issue (see my reply to Charlot123 below). It's the ProPublica article which is about safe routes between home and school, in a different city. Which IMO are totally valid concerns, along with yours about leaving earlier (these are long freight trains, so there was no practical street alternative; the overpass seen in Google StreetView is the 180 freeway where no pedestrians are allowed).

I get the impression that mom was providing what could best be described as afterschool sitting for her kids who did not actually live full-time with her. MOO ICBW

ooooh for some reason I thought that was her excuse
then it's even worse if anything could be worse than forcing your child to go under a train (I can't believe I'm even typing that tbh) ... but she doesn't even have the 'gonna be late' excuse?!

 

[Ladyotm]

Blocked Crossings Force Kids to Crawl Under Trains to Get to School

When crossings are blocked for hours, kids risk their lives to get to school by crawling through trains that could start at any moment. Ambulances and fire trucks can’t get through. The problem has existed for decades. But it’s getting worse.

www.propublica.org

Here's a relevant article- This isn't an isolated incident, unfortunately. Granted, this particular train was only stopped for a few seconds as opposed to the hours mentioned in the article, but since the family had apparently done this before they were probably used to trains being stopped for much longer.
It's an infuriating issue that I'd never heard of before this. Kids shouldn't be risking their lives just to go to school.

What an incrediblely eye-opening and gut renching article. I can appreciate the families delimina.
I remember waiting for a train when I was younger and my mom mentioned that it was a rule that the trian could only have a specific number (can't remember the #)of cars during certain hours like 6-7 am and 3-4. Ironically it was in one of the states mentioned in the article.
It should not be an issue for states/cities to make rules limiting these trains during peak citizen travel. In my little town I often see the conductor waiting for a few minutes in the morning before crossing an intersection, allowing commuters extra time to get through.