In a Thursday article headlined “5 killed after train hits vehicle that allegedly attempted to go around crossing gate” ABC News was sure to include the apparently crucial secondary detail “It appears the train may have also been damaged in the crash” prominently in the subhed of the tragic story of a no doubt horrifying collision in Gary, Indiana, sourced from ABC’s metro Chicago affiliate WLS.
Further down the article reiterated the subhed verbatim with “It appears the train may have also been damaged in the crash.” In fairness this is after what those in the news business might call “the human side of the story” specifically that the five people were killed when their vehicle drove around the closed grade crossing gate near Highway 20 and Utah Street in the city. “This is a developing story. Please check back for updates,” the story concludes, emphasis ABC’s, which could be read as urging those whose reaction to the report was “Oh my God, I hope the train isn’t in too bad of shape” to “stay tuned” for the latest on the train’s condition after it plowed into a passenger vehicle.