(The Associated Press circulated the following article on June 29.)
EAST CHICAGO, Ind. — A train stowaway trying to catch a ride home to East Chicago after drinking alcohol all day severed his leg when he jumped from the train.
Joseph K. Lopez, 30, and Daniel L. Crane, 42, decided to jump onto a freight train Sunday to get from Chicago to their homes in East Chicago, Porter County police said. But both men decided not to jump off in East Chicago because the train was moving too fast, police said.
The men, who were between two boxcars near the rear of the train, were eventually spotted. Norfolk Southern railroad officials were notified and were slowing the train in preparation of a stop in eastern Porter County.
But before the train stopped, the men jumped off.
Crane fell uninjured, but Lopez severed his right leg at the knee, police said.
Lopez and his severed leg were airlifted to St. James Hospital and Health Centers in Olympia Fields, Ill. He was in stable condition Monday, according to hospital officials.
Crane, who was found to be wanted on a Hammond warrant for failing to appear in court on a marijuana possession charge, was arrested.
“This is a very good example of what can happen when people decide to trespass on railroad property to the point of riding on cars,” said Rudy Husband, director of public relations for Norfolk Southern.