(The following story by Deanna Boyd appeared on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram website on February 26.)
FORT WORTH, Texas — A man and woman suffered non life-threatening injuries Monday when they jumped from a railroad bridge attempting to avoid being struck by an oncoming train.
Officer J.L. McGee said the two were walking on the bridge over the Trinity River just south of Northside Drive and east of Cold Springs Road, at about 11:30 a.m. when they spotted the approaching Union Pacific train.
“The train started coming so they took off running,” McGee said.
McGee said the couple had made it toward the west end of the bridge when they were forced to jump an estimated 15 feet to the grass below. The woman suffered injuries from hitting the ground and was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital by ambulance.
The man suffered a bump on his head, which he told police came from the train hitting him. He refused medical attention at the scene, McGee said.
“They were very lucky,” McGee said.
McGee said the pair were both given citations for attempted trespassing, a class C misdemeanor.