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Palmdale man killed by train

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Palmdale Station deputies responded to the scene in Littlerock where 20-year-old Edgardo Menez-Barrera was run over and killed by a train. Photo by LUIS MEZA.
The conductor sounded the horn, and only two of the three men were able to jump off the tracks in time. Photo by LUIS MEZA.

LITTLEROCK – A 20-year-old man who had been drinking on the railroad tracks late Saturday night was struck by a train and killed, authorities said.

Edgardo Menez-Barrera of Palmdale was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office.

Menez-Barrera and two friends were drinking alcohol on a railroad bridge, near Avenue T and 82nd Street East, when a freight train approached around 11:30 p.m., officials said.

“Two of them were able to jump off the tracks and escape harm, however, the victim was unable to,” said Palmdale Station Watch Commander Lt. Brandon.

Menez-Barrera was run over by the train and killed instantly. His body was recovered at the bottom of a nearby wash, and he was pronounced dead around 11:41 p.m.

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29 comments for "Palmdale man killed by train"

  1. This kid was a scumbag. I have no sorrow for any of his friends and I am happier that this piece of crap is no longer with us.Good riddance to bad trash.

  2. He wasn’t 13 and this honestly shows you were looking to start shit before you even thoroughly read it, you have no reason to look for drama but you go out of your way to find it.
    I don’t associate with people like you, You’re really just an ankle biting little B. You honestly won’t hurt anybody but you like to hear the sound of your own bark

  3. Edgar was not illegal and wasn’t a bum, the other two I feel no sympathy for and didn’t know personally. But don’t go around pulling stories out of your ass just for fun.
    You’re the type of person who makes this country look like the shit hole its perceived as.

  4. Seriously grow the f***k up. It was an accident how would you feel if this had happen to your family don’t be an idiot apparently your a Lil kid. This was my brothers friend he is upset I can’t imagine what his mother is going threw and his family my condolences to his family and friends

  5. Racist for saying someone is stupid? What is racist is you associating stupidity with certain races instead of it just being associated with intelligence.

  6. FYI I’m not a friend or a relative. I’m a father of five and two dead children. You and all the morons that have no respect for Edgardo R.I.P that’s the reason I’m upset. People like you is the reason people like me get so angry and together we can really make a mess so I hope to God that he can open you’re hearts and see how messed up you’re heart is. To take you’re time to write pure hate words towards a dead person. Remove yourself and let thus soul R.I.P you’re dead relatives would agree. Pinche Pendejo.

  7. Damn errors. “What if there had been a train carrying civilians that was derailed because of him?” is what the sentence should read like.

  8. As soon as I heard of this I was saddened , grief overwhelmed me and my mind wandered on the moments me and Edgar had spent together, I flood of flashbacks played in my head I closed my eyes and let the memories play , thinking to myself why ? We are young we drink we smoke weed , yes we make mistakes but haven’t we all , I am not thin skinned I know that what Edgar did was idiotic and foolish of him but I can not speak on something I did not witness with my own two eyes, if you’re free from guilt and wrong doing wether it be now in the past or future we all make Dumb choices, we all regret mistakes done but they can’t be undone, in this case Edgar couldn’t even learn from the mistake because he’s gone but he lives on in the hearts of all his friends and family and this love grows stronger because the av cares for its people, screw all you people who comment on the behalf of this young souls death let him and his family rest peace I think they deserve at least that, what it this was ure son, nephew, etc..put ureself on the spot, and realize your stupidity before it slaps you in the face or gets you killed :(

  9. Yes Frank, I’ve gotten hammered a few times in my life and did some crazy things, but going up against a train never seemed like a good idea to me. But that’s just me. I’m not judging anybody.

  10. You guys dont even knoe Edgar hes a great guy. How sould u feel if someone talks [removed] about how you die. You should be talking [removed] about his so cAlled friend anthony and Jesus who saw the train and saved there butts. Not cool those are [removed] up friends. Edgar was a great guy and friend to me and all his other fridnds.

  11. [removed] you. Entirely and your spot in hell is well reserved. My brother wasn’t an illegal alien, so before you open your [removed] mouth, understand this – if it we’re up to me, YOU would have been dead and not my brother. YOU. Because it’s [removed] people like you that [removed] sicken me. It’s people like you that should be dead, and not people like my brother. Trespassing? there was no gate around there you [removed] imbecile. Before you decide to type out anything, learn your [removed]. When you lose someone, I hope you go next and rot in hell.

    Bums? He had a home, he was 20. He had his whole life. YOU GUYS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT HIM YET YOU ARE ALL SO QUICK TO JUDGE MY BROTHER LIKE YOU KNEW HIS LIFE. YOU’RE ALL NEXT TO DIE, KARMA IS A BITCH.

    • My condolences on the loss of your brother Maria. It’s very difficult to lose a loved one, believe me, I know.

      Please do not waste time that you might have otherwise spent grieving to respond to the mean spirited comments here. Many of these people don’t know how difficult it is to lose a family member, and they won’t know until it happens to them. I have been there, and it is not a fun place.

      Some of the most hurtful comments are meant to provoke family members into a response. Don’t give them that power.

      May God be with you and your family in these very difficult times.

      • Must agree with you Parker. The joy people take in the death of a young man is horrific. I really have to question what kind of lives these people lead. My sympathies to this young man’s family.

    • Although it may seem sad, actions have consequences. With that being said there is no reason to harp on the young mans poor choice. Trust me he now knows how dumb his decision was. Plus his family doesnt need the reminder. And Ace you sure are a poor representation of the LDS organization! Such vitriol towars a young man who made a bad choice and paid for it. How about we save the venom for the people who victimize us not people who are lacking a few brain cells!

      • More than 25% of people killed by trains did not graduate from high school, Per the FRA study of fatalities of trespassers.

        And Maria, any per the FRA “By definition, trespassers are on railroad property illegally without permission. They are most
        often pedestrians who walk across or along railroad tracks as a shortcut from one place to another, or they are engaged in loitering,”

        He was indeed trespassing, in fact entering a railroad track in an unauthorized area with out authorized personnel giving the all clear is illegal in most states, and is often prohibited in Federal guidelines. According to the law there is no need to even post a warning across most areas because of the “OBVIOUS DANGERS AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH RAILROADS.”

        “It is unlawful in California for anyone to enter or remain upon the property of any railroad where
        entry, presence or conduct upon the property interferes with or interrupts the safe and efficient operation of
        any locomotive. A violation of this section is a misdemeanor under California law. Cal. [Penal] Code § 369i
        (West 1999).”

        “CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE § 369I – TRESPASS ON RAILROAD OR RAIL TRANSIT RELATED PROPERTY
        font size Print E-mail
        (a) Any person who enters or remains upon the property of any railroad without the permission of the owner of the land, the owner’s agent, or the person in lawful possession and whose entry, presence, or conduct upon the property interferes with, interrupts, or hinders, or which, if allowed to continue, would interfere with, interrupt, or hinder the safe and efficient operation of any locomotive, railway car, or train is guilty of a misdemeanor.

        As used in this subdivision, “property of any railroad” means any land owned, leased, or possessed by a railroad upon which is placed a railroad track and the land immediately adjacent thereto, to the distance of 20 feet on either side of the track, which is owned, leased, or possessed by a railroad.

        (b) Any person who enters or remains upon any rail transit related property owned or operated by a county transportation commission or transportation authority without permission or whose entry, presence, or conduct upon the property interferes with, interrupts, or hinders the safe and efficient operation of the railline or rail-related facility is guilty of a misdemeanor.

        As used in this subdivision, “rail transit related property” means any land or facilities owned, leased, or possessed by a county transportation commission or transportation authority.”

      • He could have caused the deaths of potentially hundreds by such dumb actions really. What if him being on the track caused another chemical container to go off the side, this time actually releasing the chemicals?

        How would you feel than?

        Playing on train tracks is a serious problem and needs to be seen as serious before an idiot kills more than themselves.

        • Are you serious? Trains hit cattle AND vehicles all the time and have never “caused the deaths of potentially hundreds”. You’re a moron. And before you go and start pulling up stories, keep it in line with FREIGHT trains. Even an Amtrak train could have hit this man and the story would still be the same.

          You don’t even have to put something in front of a train to derail it. Just attack a section of the track with a sledge hammer and put a little space between two tracks.

          • They do, but do you really want to increase the risk of potential deaths? I kept it in line with trains on those tracks, chemical transportation happens over freight lines. Chemical releases can kill hundreds easily.

            There is no excuse for people and vehicles to be on the track, and each hit is a potential derailment, so why on earth would you want to increase that by allowing stupidity? Hopefully railroad detectives will bump up their patrols and ticket/arrest heavy in Littlerock to prevent such future incidents.

    • Maria,
      I am so, so sorry for your loss. I know all too well the hurt and devastation of losing a brother. Shame on the people who think they are righteous enough to pass judgement. No one is perfect…no not one! Your brother was always very respectful to us and he was a dear friend to our son. Your family is in our prayers.

  12. Reading some of these comments is truly disgusting. The man that died was a human being just like you and just like me. He was no less than you! It’s a human life that was lost. It doesn’t matter if he was Hispanic, Black, White, Purple, or Blue. The comments being made are ignorant and SICK.

  13. YOU’RE A INCINSIDERATE LIVING PIECE OF [removed]. A LIFE WAS LOST. THE FUTURE WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OF A PIECE IF [removed] YOU AND THAT HAROLD REALLY ARE. I HOPE NOBODY IN YOU’RE FAMILY DRINKS,BECAUSE KARMA IS A BITCH.

  14. R.I.P. Edgardo Menez-Barrera. Your untimely death has stunned and saddened many, but rest assured that it brought laughter and joy to most.

    • We r truely sorry for ur loss. I hope ur family has much support in these hard times. The best thing to do right now is just not look at things people say, or even watch the news!!! I have been through this myself and the media doesn’t have the whole or even true story! We have gotten through it and I recommend going to therapy. Not a bad thing it will allow u to grieve and know that its ok to cry. U know he was a good person it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.

    • HAAAAAA….Rough way to learn a simple lesson, but it’s a lesson learned!!! Thin out that gene pool!!!

      • Wow you have no feelings whatsoever, think about how the family feels, how his mother feels. You’re a joke.

        • wow what a bunch of idiots you all are!!! thin out the gene pool and shouldn’t be drinking after 11:00 you guys are all the morons and asses here!!!! you all have led perfect lives done nothing wrong? well then by all means throw stones. we all apologize..your perfect.the family now has to suffer the loss of a son the kids have to deal with the stupid things they did.get a life people and make sure the rest of your life is perfectt