Parents charged after viral video captures Pa. family's near miss with speeding train

The parents of five children captured by surveillance video running on railroad tracks as a train approached in Greencastle last month have been charged with reckless endangering and trespassing.

Albert Lowell Horst, 36, and Brenda Kay Horst, 36, both of the 5000 block of Tick Ridge Road in Waynesboro, were sent a summons this week for the charges stemming from a Feb. 23 incident, according to charging documents in the office of Magisterial District Judge Duane Cunningham.

Greencastle police filed the charges last week alleging the couple had their children on an active rail line, according to a public information release from the Greencastle Police Department. Police identified the location of the incident as 21 S. Jefferson St., the sight of the historic High Line Train Station, just south of the Pa. Route 16 underpass.

The video, filmed by Virtual Railfan, a provider of live train cams, went viral after hitting YouTube. It shows the adults and children on the tracks who scatter out of the way of an oncoming train.

“It bothered me as a father and a grandfather,” said Greencastle Police Chief John Phillippy of the incident.

“I reached out to Norfolk Southern and we began an investigation jointly. Officer (James P.) Bradley handled the investigation on our end.”

More:Video of family nearly hit by speeding train in Pennsylvania goes viral

Phillippy said the Greencastle High Line Train Station cooperated in the investigation as well.

The affidavit of probable cause alleges the family was taking photographs around 4:45 p.m. Feb. 23 when they crossed around a fence blocking access to the rail lines and went onto the tracks.

“There was good surveillance video obviously on the Railfan and around the train station,” the chief noted.

Phillippy, who said there were five children ages 2 to 12 on the tracks, said there is no real access to the tracks from the station.

“It's fenced off,” he said. “I don't think they jumped it. If you go far enough away from the train station you can work your way around it.

“I think there was some poor decision-making.”

Police cautioned the community in the release that the rail lines are the sole property of the railroad and being on the tracks is a trespass violation.

“To a reasonable person, you don't go out on the tracks from the train station,” Phillippy said. “The fence prevents going onto the tracks.

“We hope people enjoy it for what it is. Be cautious and smart. Remember that trains are a dangerous thing to be around. The speed on these rails depending on the type of train can be 60 miles an hour. Would you go out on the interstate to play?”

The train station is managed by the Greencastle Area Youth Foundation. Representative Scott Sutton said the organization has taken more precautions since the video was made public.

“We have posted additional signage and are adding additional barriers to deter people from going over or around the fence,” Sutton said.

“We are also working with representatives of the Operation Lifesaver program to sponsor a local presentation on rail safety for the local community.”

Both Albert and Brenda Horst are scheduled for preliminary hearings May 5 in Franklin County Central Court.

Phillippy wants the incident to be a good lesson for all.

Joyce F. Nowell is a Gannett reporter based in Hagerstown, Md.