I don't feel sorry for this person one bit.

COMFORT IN A TIME OF GRIEF

Last Saturday Adolfo Medina told his longtime girlfriend, Josie Fantich, that they would be together forever in life. Now life for Fantich must go on without Medina, who was killed when he was struck by a train Monday morning.

Medina died near the intersection of Odem Street and Port Lavaca Highway, police said.

"I loved him very much," Fantich said, as she clutched a picture of herself and Medina.

Medina was a good man and a hardworking man. Fantich said drinking, and not suicide, was what led to the tragedy.

The train engineer - from Kansas City Southern - saw Medina lying on the track, sounded a horn and tried to stop in time and nearly did. But Medina was killed instantly when the train hit him, police said

Members of Medina's family were told he had a gash on his head from where he possibly slipped and hit his head on the tracks, knocking him unconscious. They were told he tried to move off the track, but simply could not get out of the way in time.

Medina was on his way home after a night out with friends. His stepdaughter, Betsy Pineda, said Medina loved to drink.

"His routine would be he would go out drinking and would come walking back on the tracks," Pineda said. "My mom would tell him all the time, 'Don't.'"

Pineda said he felt safer there than walking on the sidewalks so he would not be picked up by the police.

The last time Fantich and Medina spoke was around 2 a.m. Monday. He was on his way home.

Medina worked during the week in Beaumont as a roofer and would return home on Friday evenings.

The first thing Medina would do was spend his time with Fantich, taking her out to eat and shopping. She said they have a whole closet full of clothes they have not even worn yet.

The two were not married, but lived together for almost 11 years. Pineda said Medina said always thought of himself and Josie as husband and wife and she would always ask him about them getting married.

Medina was not here as a permanent resident.

"He wanted me to get married with him so he could get the papers, he always wanted me to marry him," Fantich said, as she gripped a tear-soaked towel.

They were told she and Medina could get married even with him just having his passport, but he was working so much, they did not have the time to get to it.

"We lived together only me and him in the apartment, now it's so empty."The couple had begun making plans for her July 25 birthday. In the past Medina would always barbecue for her and take her to buy new clothes for that day.

"He always got me everything I wanted," Fantich said.

She said he also provided for his seven stepchildren and would always help out a friend if they needed to borrow money.

"He was the type of person if somebody needed money, he had it, it was yours, he wouldn't ask you what it was for, 'When are you going to pay me back,' if he had it, there it is," Pineda said.

He also sent money back to his mother in Honduras. He was her only son. Fantich and her family said they are waiting for a call from his mother before they proceed with funeral plans.

"She wants to take him (to Honduras). Out of respect, my mother is letting her," Pedina said.

Fantich said Medina was always joking and making her laugh. She said she would ask him now and again why he did not go for a younger woman. Medina was 37, Fantich is 53.

"He would say 'why? I love you. I don't want anyone else.' He would always say we'll be together forever, until we both get old," Joise said. "He said it doesn't matter I am still going to be here."

Fantich plans to put a cross and yellow flowers, a favorite of Medina's, somewhere near the accident location.

"I'm never going to forget him, never, never."