2008 Woodie Awards
Two students die during weekend
By: Ben Burg and Kelly O'Connor
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: News
Two students died this weekend, one Saturday and another early Sunday morning, in unrelated incidents.
Roommates found senior Bobby Sheehan, 21, dead about 11:15 p.m. Saturday in his home on Ivy Street, Sgt. Rob Merrifield said.
A Union Pacific train struck junior John-Paul Sbragia-Zoricic, 20, about 3:30 a.m. Sunday on the tracks north of West First Street, according to a press release from the Chico Police Department.
Chico police and fire personnel found Sbragia-Zoricic alive behind Warner Petroleum and performed emergency care.
He was taken to Enloe Medical Center and pronounced dead by medical staff, according to the press release.
The conductor saw Sbragia-Zoricic walking along the tracks before the train hit him, said Fire Chief Steve Simpson, who was on duty during the call.
It took the conductor about a quarter mile to stop the train. He got out and performed first aid while calling the police, Simpson said.
"A train doesn't nick ya, it kills you," he said.
Three to four people die from train related accidents in Chico each year, Simpson said.
Foul play is not suspected in either incident, according to a Chico State press release.
Sheehan may have accidentally overdosed on an undisclosed substance. Police are waiting for an autopsy and toxicology report, Merrifield said.
Ben Burg can be reached at
bburg@theorion.com
Kelly O'Connor can be reached at
koconnor@theorion.com
Roommates found senior Bobby Sheehan, 21, dead about 11:15 p.m. Saturday in his home on Ivy Street, Sgt. Rob Merrifield said.
A Union Pacific train struck junior John-Paul Sbragia-Zoricic, 20, about 3:30 a.m. Sunday on the tracks north of West First Street, according to a press release from the Chico Police Department.
Chico police and fire personnel found Sbragia-Zoricic alive behind Warner Petroleum and performed emergency care.
He was taken to Enloe Medical Center and pronounced dead by medical staff, according to the press release.
The conductor saw Sbragia-Zoricic walking along the tracks before the train hit him, said Fire Chief Steve Simpson, who was on duty during the call.
It took the conductor about a quarter mile to stop the train. He got out and performed first aid while calling the police, Simpson said.
"A train doesn't nick ya, it kills you," he said.
Three to four people die from train related accidents in Chico each year, Simpson said.
Foul play is not suspected in either incident, according to a Chico State press release.
Sheehan may have accidentally overdosed on an undisclosed substance. Police are waiting for an autopsy and toxicology report, Merrifield said.
Ben Burg can be reached at
bburg@theorion.com
Kelly O'Connor can be reached at
koconnor@theorion.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 15
Rich Walsh
posted 10/03/08 @ 9:39 AM PST
Kelly, a lot of students over the years have been run over by trains. The situation call for a long term, in depth story on the many students who have been killed. (Continued…)
slammin211s
posted 10/03/08 @ 10:44 AM PST
the kids getting hit by trains are generally either drunk or listening to ipods too loud, not the city or railroads fault these morons think its a good idea to walk on the tracks or go right past lights bells and gates. (Continued…)
Mary
posted 10/03/08 @ 12:52 PM PST
I think it is a sad situation for the the kids and the parents left behind no matter what the circumstances the kids didn't deserve to die. I have kids and kids make mistakes, kids do stupid things but they shouldn't die as a result. (Continued…)
Kevin
posted 10/03/08 @ 1:13 PM PST
Move the train tracks to make this a safer place for drunk students? Piece of cake. What a stupid thing to say. Do you blame the location of roads for people hit by cars? We all know to look both ways and be cautious whenever we step out in the street. (Continued…)
Shara
posted 10/03/08 @ 1:23 PM PST
What the hell ever happened to accountability? These are young adults, presumably smart enough to understand the risks of their behavior. They're not "kids" and seems like every time someone gets hit by the train it's a drunken Chico State student. (Continued…)
Rich Walsh
posted 10/04/08 @ 10:53 AM PST
I have read this story too many times. It's just awful to see a young college kid - just ready to begin thier life - dying a horrible death like this. (Continued…)
Ky
posted 10/04/08 @ 6:00 PM PST
Move the tracks. That won't accomplish anything, People will just go to wherever he tracks are moved to commit suicide then. No one walks on the tracks and doesn't know a train is coming. (Continued…)
greg
posted 10/13/08 @ 11:17 AM PST
what happened to the first guy
John
posted 1/04/09 @ 6:43 AM PST
I attended CSUC from 1997-2002 and witnessed a similar pattern of roughly one train strike per year; generally students or vagrants. The issue of "fault" is really moot, unless you are looking at the legal ramifications, i. (Continued…)
slammin211s
posted 1/05/09 @ 9:38 PM PST
didnt even remember commenting on this issue, but
1) i stand by my original comments
2) when the tracks were put there, im willing to bet it was not mostly student housing
3) that area will no longer have "affordable" housing if the tracks are moved, because it is a desirable area of town to live in and without the train horn, rents will be higher
and finally
4) where ever the tracks are relocated to will have student housing or a ghetto spring up around it . (Continued…)
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