Family of Auckland teen killed by train push for automatic swing gates at level crossings

Monday, 13 August 2018

Presley Matthes, with wife Karamea and daughters Cecelia and Kalani, says you never get over losing a child at such a young age.

A recent death after a person was hit by a train in West Auckland really hit home for Presley Matthes.

It has been a year and a half since his 16-year-old son Keenan died when he was struck by a train.

He was out on his morning run listening to music through his headphones and failed to hear a train coming at the Rānui station crossing.

As part of Rail Safety Week, Matthes is speaking about safety concerns at rail stations and will be looking to Transport Minister Phil Twyford for funding to install automatic swing gates at all level crossings.

**READ MORE

Keenan Matthes was hit by a train on April 20, 2017 while out jogging, with headphones on.

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The family successfully advocated for a swing gate at the Rānui station after Keenan's death and one was installed in April.

The Matthes family campaigned to get automatic safety gates installed at Rānui Train Station, now they want them at all level crossings.

Matthes said he was happy more were being installed across Auckland but said they were needed all over New Zealand.

'We feel as a family that it's the only fix,' he said.

Keenan Matthes was hit by a train at Rānui Train Station.

But distraction was another concern for Matthes and something he believed had a huge impact on accidents.

'If you're not thinking and not looking where you are, you don't know what's coming.'

Matthes said people could have something on their mind, be day-dreaming, looking down at their phone or wearing headphones like his son was.

Having signs and yellow lines warning pedestrians of trains was not enough, he said.

'It doesn't stop people from getting hit. Putting a gate in front will stop them.'

Matthes has been in the building industry for about 20 years and said he had seen a huge change in safety regulations in that time.

But he said he didn't see those same regulations at rail crossings.

'It's quite frustrating for me as a builder because safety is very important in the building site and when I went to these pedestrian level crossings, the standards are different.

'I see a big, heavy cast iron train going past you with nothing in front. Whereas in the building site, there's no way we'll have a big truck coming through without people watching the road and making sure the public is safe.'

Matthes said losing Keenan at such a young age was something he would never get over.

He said his family felt attached to railways since Keenan's death and would continue to advocate for safety at level crossings.

This year's theme for Rail Safety Week, led by KiwiRail and TrackSAFE NZ, is to look left and right for trains and 'whatever you look, always look for trains'.