(The Grand Forks Herald posted the following story by Stephen J. Lee on its website on August 25.)
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — The boy who fell while playing on a slow-moving freight train in Grafton, N.D., on Wednesday lost part of a foot in the accident, according to a spokesman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe.
The boy, 8, was riding on the slow freight in town when he tried to jump off and his leg got caught in the ladder, according to the Walsh County Sheriff’s Department. In falling, the boy somehow got his leg under the train.
The train was moving cars from the north end of town to the south end, at speeds under 10 mph Wednesday afternoon, said Gus Melonas, spokesman for BNSF.
About seven car lengths from a crossing, the boy fell from the train and his foot was run over by a wheel.
“The crew was not immediately aware of this,” Melonas said.
The boy was taken by a private party to Unity Hospital in Grafton and later taken to Altru Hospital in Grand Forks.
“Unfortunately, part of his foot was severed,” Melonas said.
The incident is a stark reminder that trains aren’t for playing, Melonas said.
All railroad property, including the right of way alongside tracks, is private. Any trespassing is illegal, Melonas said.
“This is a terrible example that trains are extremely dangerous and the last thing we want is for someone to get hurt on our equipment,” he said. “We want the public to realize the danger on all railroad property. We don’t want a repeat of this situation.”
New technology means cabooses hardly are used anymore, so the only crew were in the engine. Often ground personnel are present if there is switching to do, but it’s not clear any were nearby when the boy was hurt.
The boy apparently remains at Altru Hospital, but no information about his condition is being released.