Comment: 'These Poor Girls Were in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time'

Many questions have yet to be answered as investigators continue to look into the tragic train derailment in Ellicott City that killed two young women Monday night.

Patch readers have expressed a range of thoughts and emotions about coping with loss and preventing such disasters in the future. Here are some of their most thought-provoking comments:

"To deal with a tragedy like this is so difficult. To have it played out in the media is an even more difficult burden. To have your children's lives inspected and analyzed and commented on by strangers must be such an additional heartbreak." --EL

"You won't stop the determined but, you could deter the vagrants and tourist who like to wander around the tracks and take pictures on the weekends." --eric

"These poor girls were in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's it. So are people who are harmed or killed in every way, every day. That's life." --Hollis Karr Burl

"I lived in Ellicott City my entire life. Every child, teen and adult that lived there have been on the tracks. Most of us sat with our feet dangling down and just loved being kids in EC. Most of us were not doing drugs, having sex and drinking. We were having fun and tried to stay safe." --Debbie B.

"I am sick of these politicians, news media and concerned citizens who DON'T live in Ellicott City saying they need a Safety Task Force to investigate how safe this area is." --Terry McCulley Hicks

"How many times, when the girls were children, were they told 'don’t play on train tracks?' My guess? Many. We all were told the same thing." --Lynda Meier

"Lynda, process the happening privately. Write in your diary like a healthy person. Your inflammatory statements have no place in the aftermath of this! If you want to share your inane opinion, update your Twitter. Enjoy your 15 minutes of shame." --Kayleigh

"It goes without saying that we need to withhold judgment until the facts are known, but from what appears to be the case at this time, it doesn't appear to me that these girls were engaged in anything that was extremely risky and irresponsible." --Cal Oren

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