(The following story by Jessica Marcy appeared on the Roanoke Times website on July 6.)
ROANOKE, Va. — An Arizona man had his left hand and right foot severed after he fell under a Norfolk Southern train early Sunday morning.
Robin Chapman, a spokesman for Norfolk Southern, said that Tyler Jim Shepherd was injured at the 10th Street overpass in Roanoke at about 4 a.m. Sunday.
The incident occurred on a train headed to Louisiana. Shepherd and two men identified as Brendon Johnson and Keith Owen boarded an empty well car, used to haul shipping containers, when the train stopped in the Roanoke terminal to change crews, Chapman said.
Shepherd lost his footing and fell under the car when the train began to move. His companions called 911 and Shepherd was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Chapman said.
Roanoke Police charged Johnson and Owen with trespassing. Chapman did not know where either of the two men were from and said that they were not carrying identification. He said police are trying to confirm their identities, and that he did not know whether Shepherd was also charged.
Carilion spokesman Eric Earnhart said Shepherd was listed in critical condition early Sunday evening.