(The following appeared at WNDU.com on April 17.)
ELKHART, Ind. — A Norfolk Southern employee was seriously hurt in an accident early this morning after attempting to stop a runaway train car.
Elkhart police say 28-year-old Brian Straight was struck by a train car that had recently been removed from a train. Reports from the scene say the train was apparently rolling on the tracks and Straight attempted to stop it at the Norforlk Southern train yard at 2600 N. Lusher in Elkhart.
A witness told police Straight attempted to apply the brakes on the moving train car when he was struck and pinned under the car. Norfolk Southern employees said they used a crane to lift the railroad car off of the victim.
Straight was transported to Memorial Hospital with critical injuries to his lower body.