Train Crash

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Sam: Hello and welcome to this special news report brought to you by us here at the Link news team. The important event is a train crash that has killed one person but could have been so much worse. For once, this crash had nothing to do with rail track, but a signal operator's decision. He had to choose between killing one person or a whole city. The train was heading at full speed approaching a junction operated by George Oliver Deane. On one track there was a fault that would have caused a city to be destroyed instantly. On the other track was a lonely man, who hasn't been named for legal reasons. The signalman, Mr. Deane, had to decide between killing the lonely man or destroying a whole city. Mr. Deane decided to kill the man as it meant more people could live. Now we'll go straight over to our special news reporter, Adam Bell, who is currently at the scene of this accident.

Adam: Yes, thank you Sam. I'm here at the scene of this fatal accident. You have heard what happened but let us interview some people. We have George Oliver Deane, the signal operator, two eye witnesses but we'll start with the train driver, a Mr. Chris Thompson. Thank you for talking to us Mr. Thompson.

Chris: That's fine.

Adam: Can I ask you for your version of events?

Chris: Yes....well.... it all happened so quickly. I was travelling along as normal when I first sore the problem. On one track was this man who didn't seem to want to move. On the other track was a fault of some kind, I'm not sure exactly what it was but I understand it would have destroyed that city over there. Well I didn't know what to do so I called the signal operator and he told me he would make the decision for me. I just put the brakes on and waited to see what happened.

Adam: Thank you. It must have been pretty scary and upsetting.

Chris: Oh, yes. I think I'll be having nightmares about this for a good while.

Adam: Ok, Thanks Mr. Thompson. We'll now talk to two eyewitnesses, a Mr Jeff Wiltord and a Mr. Phil Price, no, not the golfer. Hello gentlemen.

Both: Hi.

(Mobile rings)

Jeff: Excuse me. (Answers mobile) Hi, Jeff here, yeah, of course, certainly. (Hangs up) Sorry about that.

Adam: That's OK. Now can you tell us what happened? Let's start with you Mr. Price.

Phil: Well, man, it was like this, weren't it? Well I was walking by the train track, right, along that path and suddenly the train's brakes screeched, yeah? I looked, see, and I saw the problem. I obviously stayed cool, man. Some people say I'm sooo laid back I'm horizontal, ain't it. Well it was a problem, man, and then the train headed towards that bloke. It hit him, see, and...

Adam: (interrupting) Yes thank you we don't need to go into that. Mr. Wiltord what is your version of events?

Jeff: Well, I was commuting like I do everyday at this time. Today seemed pretty normal but then the train began to slow. I thought to myself that doesn't normally happen, what's going on? I looked out the window and I too saw the problem. I knew it was going to be up to the signalman to make the decision. My educated brain also told me that it would make more sense to kill the one man than a whole city. I'm so glad I wasn't the signalman though.

Adam: Thank you. Just a couple more questions. Mr. Price didn't you consider trying to save the man's life.

Phil: I was a bit far away, man. Anyway I was gonna risk my life, mate. It's not my place, ain't it.

Adam: Right. Mr. Wiltord didn't you worry about your safety.

Jeff: I did for a bit but then I remembered I don't need to worry I have a mobile.

Adam: I think we better leave it at that. Thank you gentlemen. So we've heard from the train driver and two eyewitnesses but now we have the man who had to make the all-important decision. Mr. George Oliver Deane, the signalman. Hello, Mr Deane.

Andi: Alright mate.

Adam: How about you. Tell us what happened.

George: OK. Well I was reading the paper in my signal box when I got an emergency message from Mr. Thompson, the train driver. I found out what was wrong and told him not to panic I would make the decision. I think most people in my position would have done the same thing in saving the majority. I did this and so killed my son.

Adam: Excuse me, did you just say you killed your son.

George: Yes my son was the man on the track.

Adam: You sacrificed your son to save a city.

George: Yes, I felt it had to be done. It was the right thing to do.

Adam: Well, this was unexpected. How do you feel?

George: Well I'm obviously upset but I did what I had to do.

Adam: That is amazing but unfortunately we've run out of time so I thank you Mr. Deane and hand back to Sam in the studio.

Sam: Thank you Adam. What an important piece of information. We have found out something that changes the whole outcome. However according to one of our top researchers this has happened before a long, long time ago. God did the same thing to his son by sacrificing him on a cross for everyone. What a story!!! Unfortunately though we have to go. So this is Sam Palmer signing off and saying goodbye.

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