APUCARANA, PARANÁ, BRAZIL – SEPTEMBER 8, 2025 In the Vila Apucaraninha neighborhood, at the end of Rua Oswaldo Cruz, a person collided with a train. The collision tore off the entire left leg of an as-yet-unidentified man and caused other serious injuries. He was taken to Hospital da Providência in critical condition. Updates on his health are not available.
This is already the second case of a person being hit by a train in the past three days. Over the last two years, 70 similar incidents have been recorded in the area. The cause is the railway tracks that separate the residential part of Vila Apucaraninha from the rest of the city. Crossing the tracks can save some people up to a mile of walking, so these shortcuts are heavily used. However, there are no pedestrian crossings with traffic lights, underpasses, or overpasses.
This incident has prompted local residents to demand some change in the city. A single traffic light in this area could have saved dozens of lives. Whether any changes will actually be implemented remains an unanswered question. Until then, people have no choice but to follow basic railway safety rules.
Of course, the best approach is not to cross the tracks at all, except at designated crossings. The minutes saved by taking a shortcut are not worth risking your health or life. But if you must cross, always stay extremely alert and watch your step to avoid falling or getting your foot stuck in the tracks.
