In a world obsessed with selfies and capturing the perfect moment, some risks are just not worth taking. This tragic story serves as a sobering reminder that life is far more important than any social media post.
It was a sunny day in October 2011 when 15-year-old Essa Ricker, her friend Kelsea Webster, also 15, and Kelsea’s 13-year-old younger sister Savannah made their way to Spanish Fork Canyon in Utah.
"Standing right by a train ahaha this is awesome!!!!” Savannah wrote on Facebook, as she and her friends posed for a selfie beside the train tracks, grinning as a westbound train rolled by.
The excitement on their faces was palpable. But they didn’t realize another train was coming from the opposite direction - its headlights visible in the top-left corner of their selfie.
“They were in their own little world,” recalled John Anderson, the conductor aboard the eastbound Union Pacific train. He and engineer Michael Anderson (who coincidentally share the same last name but are not related) desperately blasted the train’s horn to get the girls’ attention. But the teenagers, focused on their selfie, didn’t flinch.
"We watched in horror as we got closer," John explained to Union Pacific. “We saw them for about 12 seconds until they disappeared from our sight and the train continued moving forward.”
Utah County sheriff's Sgt Spencer Cannon said at the time of the tragedy that the two trains were about three-to-four feet apart, and that the resulting turbulence was powerful enough to throw the girls into unavoidable danger, per the Daily Mail.
By the time the emergency brakes were applied, it was already too late. Trains traveling at 55 mph can take more than a mile to come to a complete stop, and the train was barreling toward the trio at approximately 39 mph. When the train finally stopped, about a quarter mile down the track, John raced back to the scene.
After finding the two 15-year-olds with no pulse, he then saw 13-year-old Savannah - alive but severely injured.
“I hoped she would make it and for some reason I really thought she would,” John said.
He held her hand and tried to comfort her, but despite his hopes, Savannah’s injuries were too severe. She passed away three days later in the hospital, suffering from over a dozen broken bones, internal bleeding, and a severe brain injury.
"We spoke to the doctors today and they informed us that Savvy's brain injuries were too great," Savannah’s mother wrote on her blog, per the Daily Mail. "Even though they've had done everything possible, Savannah will not be able to recover any further.
"We will keep her on life support till the end of the day, but it's time to say goodbye, for now, to an angel that walked among us."
The accident devastated not only the families of the girls but also the train crew. John and Michael - both fathers of teenage daughters - were left reeling from the tragedy. “What happened was very intense and I have to carry it the rest of my life,” said Michael. "I don’t know what John saw that night and I don’t want to know what he saw that night."
The loss of the three young girls was a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly life can change. For the families and friends of Essa, Kelsea, and Savannah, life would never be the same. For the train crew, the memory of that day is something they will carry forever.
In the wake of this preventable tragedy, Kelsea and Savannah’s mother, Jayna Webster, has made it her mission to spread awareness about railroad safety. “The accident that took my daughters' lives was preventable and a good illustration of how close a train can be without hearing it,” Jayna said. “No one should have to go through this, and I hope people will seriously think about the campaign’s rail safety message and share it with their loved ones.”
Union Pacific has since launched several campaigns aimed at promoting rail safety, urging people to stay away from train tracks, especially when taking photos. Their message is simple: no selfie is worth your life.
As Michael put it: “Think about the pain it would inflict on their families if things went wrong. It also hurts the train crew, the first responders, and the many people who love you."