(The following article by Jeff Reinitz was posted on the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier website on January 21.)
WATERLOO, Iowa — A railroad worker is recovering after a train wheel ran over his foot during an accident Tuesday night.
Kody Breitbach, 25, of Waverly, remained at Allen Hospital this morning after surgery, but his condition wasn’t immediately available.
Amanda Anderson, a friend, said Breitbach was doing well, and they will know more about the condition of his foot later today.
“He was out working on it and slipped, and (the train) went over his foot,” Anderson said.
Preliminary reports show Breitbach, who is a conductor for the Iowa Northern Railroad, was riding from Manly in north Iowa to Waterloo when he fell off the train, Mark Sabin, Iowa Northern’s general manager, said.
Capt. Bruce Arneds with the Waterloo Police Department said it appeared the employee lost his balance when the train cars jolted.
The accident happened on the Seventh Street railroad bridge over the Cedar River at 5:46 p.m.
Breitbach landed on the bridge but didn’t fall from the span, and the train wheel passed over his right foot, according to accounts of the accident.
Other railroad workers became concerned when they couldn’t reach Breitbach on the radio, Arends said. They found him when they went to investigate.
Sabin couldn’t comment on the extent of the injuries, but police reports show rescuers recovered a leather boot from the scene.
Breitbach was taken off the bridge and loaded in a Waterloo Fire Rescue ambulance at Commercial Street.
Sabin said the rail company is investigating the accident.
Conductors perform the ground work for the train and handle paperwork at stops.