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Written by: Carolyn V. Coarsey, Ph.D.
June 2026
The Family Assistance Education & Research Foundation (FAERF) honors the twenty-six years of pioneering work performed by Lara Jensen—our Kindred Spirit, in Western Australia. Since her younger brother Christian died when a moving train struck his car, Lara has devoted her life to the evolution of consciousness in the rail industry in Western Australia. The accident was a totally preventable, as the train was impossible to see due to lack of lighting on the flat crossing.
Nearly sixty years ago Western Australia (WA) was already asking: can motorists actually see the train?
-Steve McGuire, President, WA Farmers
A couple of years ago FAERF Regional Director, Mike Kavanaugh brought to my attention the work of Lara Jensen, a pioneer dedicated to raising safety standards in rural Western Australia. As I began to learn about Lara’s work, I felt an immediate kinship of sorrow, as her story mirrors thousands of individuals who are determined to bring about improvements and build a better earth, based on our broken hearts and innumerable losses.
Lara’s Loss
On July 8, 2000, Lara and her family were awakened by barking dogs announcing the arrival of local police whose message would change their lives forever– and mark the beginning of changes in rail safety for rural Western Australia. Lara’s brother Christian Jensen, 20, and his friends Hilary Smith, 19, and Jess Broad, 18, died instantly when the car he was driving struck an unmarked moving freight train.
The coroner’s report revealed no alcohol or drugs in Christian’s system, nor was he speeding or doing anything other than driving to a birthday party, with his two best friends as passengers who also died in the impact. Not unlike many other family survivors, Lara became an unwilling expert on a topic that continues to raise awareness as to needs that are not new—but somehow continues to escape prominence with those who have the power to make the needed improvements.
Known Facts that Lara’s Research Uncovered
In regional Australia there are 18,000 level crossings without boom gates or flashing lights. The train that killed Lara’s brother and his companions was not fitted with warning lights, and the unlit crossing was protected only by a Give Way sign, obscured by vegetation. Lara is joined by twelve families across Australia who have similar stories, based on tragic losses of family members. They all lost loved ones due to what the president of WA Farmers, Steve McGuire, describes as fragmented responsibility and underenforced standards.
With Lara leading the family advocacy group, twenty organizations around Australia are supporting her work for improved train lighting and level crossing safety. The final draft of the train lighting standard AS 7531 is due for release in the third quarter of 2026. Lara and the families are hopeful as to the success of the document in bringing about the long-awaited changes on rail safety in Western Australia.
More about Lara’s work can be found by visiting Lara’s Improved Train Lighting and Level Crossing group on Facebook. You can also follow Lara Jensen, Rail Safety Advocate on LinkedIn. At FAERF, we are behind Lara and the families’ efforts and will keep up with her progress as she continues her fight for improvements in this crucial area.