(The following story by Bob Glissmann appeared on the Omaha World-Herald website on September 16.)
OMAHA, Neb. — The Council Bluffs man who lost both of his legs in a train accident last week told rescue workers that he was determined to survive.
Wesley Franks, 52, fell from a train Wednesday night just south of 16th Avenue and Main Street in Council Bluffs.
Emergency officials said Franks was riding on a ladder on the back of a railcar when the train jolted and Franks fell off. His legs were run over by at least two railcars.
Franks was taken to Omaha’s Creighton University Medical Center in extremely critical condition with severe damage to his lower abdomen and legs. Creighton issued a press release Monday saying that both legs were partially severed by the train.
After several surgeries, both of Franks’ legs were amputated — one at midcalf, the other at the hip. He remained in critical condition, the hospital said.
According to the hospital, Franks’ words to the rescue crew were: “I’m not going out this way.” His family remains optimistic about his recovery.
Franks began working for Iowa Interstate Railroad three weeks before the accident, the press release said. Because of his short term of employment, some of his health care benefits were not yet effective. People who want to help with expenses can make donations at any U.S. Bank branch on behalf of Wesley Franks.
Iowa Interstate Railroad’s director of human resources, Bobbi Allen, said company policy does not allow disclosure of details relating to the incident. The company, she said, “has standard medical work-related coverage for all employees regardless of longevity with the company to assist in the payment of emergency medical treatment.”
Franks’ family asks for the community’s thoughts and prayers as he recovers, the hospital said.
Franks and his wife, Sandra, have been married for 32 years. They have six grown children together, the hospital said.