We’re often told to capture as many moments as we can with the people we love while they’re still with us. Life is unpredictable—sometimes cruel—and we never truly know how much time we have left together.
It’s a sobering truth, one that’s difficult to dwell on, especially at the start of a new week, yet it remains undeniable.
Today, photos and videos serve as precious keepsakes—tangible reminders of those we’ve lost, helping us grieve, reflect, and remember exactly who they were: their personality, passions, and quirks.
For the family of teenager John DeReggi, the photos taken on the day he died are especially bittersweet. In September 2015, 16-year-old John was with his girlfriend and her twin sister, taking part in a photography class project.
The assignment was to create a series of uplifting images under the theme *“youth and the pathway yet to come.”* To capture the perfect shots, the three ventured to a set of rural Maryland railroad tracks.
John and his girlfriend danced playfully along the rails as her sister took pictures. But their lighthearted afternoon turned tragic when they realized too late that an Amtrak train was barreling toward them at over 70 mph. The rush of air from the train pushed the sisters to safety, but John was not as fortunate. Though he tried to leap clear of the tracks, he was struck and killed instantly by the massive 200-ton locomotive.
His mother, Christine DeReggi, learned of her son’s death from his girlfriend, who had witnessed the horrific accident.
Speaking to ABC News, Christine described her son: “He loved excitement. He wasn’t reckless, but he enjoyed adventure. He loved to laugh and sometimes to be just a little scared.”
On the girls’ narrow escape, she said: “They barely made it. It was almost a triple tragedy… it happened so fast they were nearly pulled in too. The train is much wider than the tracks, and I don’t know how far John jumped, but it wasn’t far enough.”
Christine ended with heartbreaking grace: “The moments before my son died are beautiful. He’s at peace, he’s happy. You can see it—it’s just them, doing a sweet project together.”