As picturesque as it appeared in the July 11 Sun Journal, the photograph of the girl “carefully” crossing the abandoned railroad trestle depicts her ignorance of the law and poor editorial judgment on the part of the Sun Journal.

The rail trestle may be abandoned, but it is still owned by a railroad, so it is considered private property and anyone walking, fishing, ATV riding, or any other use of the bridge, is trespassing and subject to a summons.

Much more importantly, the trestle is dangerous.

In the caption below the picture, it states Chief Worumbo Androscoggin River Race officials say “walking across the trestle is not against the law …”. If the girl had slipped and hit her head on a rail, had she fallen between the wooden cross-ties where there’s no solid ground underneath, or had she fallen off the bridge, who, I wonder, would be liable for having given her permission to walk the trestle?

Interestingly enough, just the day before the race, a volunteer from Maine Operation Lifesaver was nearby at the YWCA in Lewiston educating several dozen more children, as we do with thousands each year, that railroad tracks are dangerous. No exceptions.

Frederic Hirsch, Bangor

State coordinator, Maine Operation Lifesaver