On a bright afternoon in October 2011, a tragic incident unfolded, claiming the lives of three young individuals in Utah’s Spanish Fork Canyon. The teenagers, Essa Ricker and Kelsea Webster, both aged fifteen, along with Kelsea’s thirteen-year-old sister, Savannah Webster, stopped near the railway tracks at Covered Bridge Canyon to take a selfie. Little did they know of the danger approaching from behind.
Savannah’s final social media post on Facebook, stating, “Standing right by a train ahaha this is awesome!!!!” captured the moment before tragedy struck. Unbeknownst to them, a second train was approaching from the opposite direction, visible in the background of their last photo.
Sheriff’s Sergeant Spencer Cannon later speculated that the noise from the passing train may have masked the sound of the second train, leaving the girls unaware of the impending danger. Despite efforts from the crew of the eastbound Union Pacific freight train to alert them, the teens did not respond in time.
The train could not halt in time, resulting in the instant deaths of Essa and Kelsea at the scene. Savannah survived the initial impact but sustained severe injuries. Despite undergoing emergency surgery at Primary Children’s Medical Center, her injuries proved fatal, leading to the heartbreaking decision to withdraw life support three days later.
The tragic incident deeply affected the local community and served as a stark reminder of the hazards posed by railway tracks and distractions like phones and cameras. In response, Union Pacific launched a safety campaign in August 2016, releasing educational videos urging people to avoid taking selfies near railway tracks.
Reflecting on the tragedy, John Anderson, the conductor on the freight train, emphasized the importance of staying away from dangerous areas like railway tracks. He highlighted the emotional toll such incidents take on families, train crews, first responders, and loved ones. Anderson urged individuals to heed the rail safety message and share it with others, emphasizing the need for caution and awareness around railway tracks.