WASHINGTON, D.C. — A fund has been established in the name of William Hopkins, a member of BLET Division 200 (Davenport, Iowa) and an employee of the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad.
On June 24, Brother William Hopkins was switching at the Tyson Food Plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa, when the bridge that his locomotive was occupying collapsed, causing the engine and two cars to fall 20 feet into the flood waters of the Iowa and Cedar Rivers. It is believed that floodwaters had inundated the area for several days, adding pressure to the bridge
Although his injuries were described as “non-life threatening” by the IC&E, he is only now being slowly brought out of a medically induced coma, according to Iowa State Legislative Board Chairman Jeff Kurtz.
“Due to the fragile state of his health, all the tests necessary to determine the extent of his injuries have not been performed,” Chairman Kurtz said. “We do know that he has a broken hip socket, a broken left leg and numerous other injuries. His wife, Cindy, has been by his side at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City throughout this ordeal.”
A fund has been started to help defray the expenses incurred by the Hopkins’ family during this time. Donations can be sent to:
William Hopkins
c/o Doug Techel
Wells Fargo
231 W. 2nd St.
Ottumwa, Iowa 52501
Or contact John Sexton, Local Chairman Division 200 at 563-210-0875.