George Harris
Engineer
Looking at the map in the news article adn comparing it with the features in Google maps, this location appears to be near Modoc Point, OR (I stand corrected on saying California. Sorry about my geographic error.) In this area the railroad is fairly straight for a long distance and paralleled by US 97 on the east side, close but not imediately adjacent.
I am well aware of the usual cow thinking, "The grass is greener on the other side of the fence." The area adjacent to the fence and as far through it as the cow can reach seems to always be the most closely grazed part of any field. Also, any trees tend to be leafless to a point as high as a cow can reach. It is an easy way to tell whether a field is used for grazing land or has been in recent years. All the tress and brush along the fences or elsewhere look like they have been trimmed to a precise distance above the ground.
However, as said before, if these critters were so valuable, the guy should have done his best to be sure that they were fenced in fenced out or whatever you want to call it to prevent just what happened, regardless of the provisions of law.
If one or more had gotten on the adjacent highway and been hit, then who would be at fault? Hitting or having an accident while trying to miss a cow can be have serious consequences. Who would you think would be considered to be at fault if a cow suddenly appears in your headlights and you end up with serious injuries from the collision?
I am well aware of the usual cow thinking, "The grass is greener on the other side of the fence." The area adjacent to the fence and as far through it as the cow can reach seems to always be the most closely grazed part of any field. Also, any trees tend to be leafless to a point as high as a cow can reach. It is an easy way to tell whether a field is used for grazing land or has been in recent years. All the tress and brush along the fences or elsewhere look like they have been trimmed to a precise distance above the ground.
However, as said before, if these critters were so valuable, the guy should have done his best to be sure that they were fenced in fenced out or whatever you want to call it to prevent just what happened, regardless of the provisions of law.
If one or more had gotten on the adjacent highway and been hit, then who would be at fault? Hitting or having an accident while trying to miss a cow can be have serious consequences. Who would you think would be considered to be at fault if a cow suddenly appears in your headlights and you end up with serious injuries from the collision?