Teen loses legs as she tries to hop train

[Iris]

Source. (http://news.yahoo.com/police-teen-loses-legs-she-tries-hop-train-001245943.html)


LONGMONT, Colo. (AP) — A 17-year-old Colorado State University student lost both her legs when she tried to hop aboard a freight train and slipped underneath the moving train on Monday, police said.

One of three males with the student was briefly dragged by the train but suffered only minor injuries. The accident occurred in the northern Colorado town of Longmont shortly after 1 p.m. when the group tried to board the northbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe train, police said.

Train speed limits through Longmont are 25 mph. It wasn't known exactly how fast the train was going at the time of the accident.

The student was taken to Longmont United Hospital by ambulance and then flown to Denver Health Medical Center. Denver Health officials said they couldn't release any information about her, but Longmont Police Cmdr. Jeff Satur said he believed she was conscious and able to talk.

Longmont is about 30 miles north of Denver and about 30 miles south of Fort Collins, where the university is located. All four lived in Fort Collins and it's possible they caught a train south and were trying to return home when the accident took place, Satur said.

No names have been released, but Satur said the three males with were between 17 to 20 years old. The female victim's parents live in another state, which Satur didn't identify.

The male who was dragged by the train was cited for trespassing, as was another one of the males, Satur said. A third male made it aboard the train and his whereabouts were unknown.

Satur said he didn't know if the female would be cited.
"She's got enough issues to worry about," he said.

[OptimusPrime]

Oh jesus. Dumb train driver. I hope he gets sued as he would have most likely been at fault.

[Iris]

Oh jesus. Dumb train driver. I hope he gets sued as he would have most likely been at fault.

How could he/she have known? It's the girl's fault, she chose to do this. I have a lot of sympathy for her though.

[OptimusPrime]

Oh, I had originally misread the news article when I read it first. Now I understand. Stupid girl!

[Sage]

It's unfortunate that the had to lose her legs, but my sympathy is limited because anyone serious about freight hopping should be extremely familiar with very basic safety measures that can prevent things like this. Never hop on a train that's moving from the side, only the back. If you're set on getting onto one of the middle cars from the side, then wait for the train to stop. They stop all the time in different places.

[Iris]

It's unfortunate that the had to lose her legs, but my sympathy is limited because anyone serious about freight hopping should be extremely familiar with very basic safety measures that can prevent things like this. Never hop on a train that's moving from the side, only the back. If you're set on getting onto one of the middle cars from the side, then wait for the train to stop. They stop all the time in different places.

You speak from experience?

[anonymous53]

+1 For Darwin.

It sucks she had to lose her legs, but come on? What was she thinking?

[SinisterMystery]

Oh that's awful!

[Jess]

poor girl, but she should have known better.

[Sage]

You speak from experience?

I can't advocate illegal activities on this forum, so let's say that's neither here nor there.

[DoctorWho]

Wow ..

[huginnmuninn]

umm... dumb ass girl trying to hop on a train. i think thats what they call survival of the fittest in action (besides the fact that she didnt die) she deserves what she got and i have no sympathy for her.

[superstar2067]

I'm agreeing with Sage, it's unfortunate that she lost her legs but my sympathy is limited. She should never have tried it

[Sage]

She should never have tried it

I wouldn't go that far, freight hopping is one of the greatest adventures you can partake in without a single dime. You just have to really know what you're doing.

[Amaryllis]

I feel really bad for her... I can't imagine what it would be like to lose your legs. I really want to travel the world and photograph so, really, if I lost my legs, that would be second to losing my voice(Must. Try. To. Be. A. Professional. Singer.)

At the same time, though...

What an idiot. No offence. This is just my opinion. But come on, she knew the dangers. She knew what coulda happened. At least try jumping over a hole onto a moving conveyer belt a couple of times, you know? Sure, like sage said, it could be "fun". But still, she knew the dangers.

But... Poor girl. I'd cry if I lost my legs.

[Love.Hate]

She shouldn't have done it, or at least have been more careful... but the poor girl loosing her legs, that must be awful :(

[xXl0sth0peXx]

That's kinda freaky to think about..

I feel so bad for her, but I also don't..
I can't imagine living without my legs..

[butty_92]

It's her own fault for being stupid enough to hop the train. The driver should take no responsibility for this plain stupidity.

[Carlyle]

I will blame it on her this time, though I feel very slightly bad for her. Losing your legs would really suck.. but it is her own fault in this situation.

[User Deleted]

My thing is it is your life, and your decisions. If the girl wanted to loose her legs, so be it, but she needs to claim responsibility for her own actions. So I say it was her actions/fault.

I wouldn't go that far, freight hopping is one of the greatest adventures you can partake in without a single dime. You just have to really know what you're doing.

I honestly laughed reading this. Although it interestingly enough sounds exciting, it seems a little hard to get practice safely.

[Iris]

My thing is it is your life, and your decisions. If the girl wanted to loose her legs, so be it, but she needs to claim responsibility for her own actions. So I say it was her actions/fault.

No one wants to lose his or her legs. Of course it's her fault that she lost them, but it definitely wasn't her purpose when she decided to do this.

That doesn't mean she isn't deserving of sympathy. She made one mistake and her life will never be the same. It's a sad thing.

[butty_92]

No one wants to lose his or her legs. Of course it's her fault that she lost them, but it definitely wasn't her purpose when she decided to do this.

That doesn't mean she isn't deserving of sympathy. She made one mistake and her life will never be the same. It's a sad thing. Well if you jump over a cliff, do you not intend to die?

[User Deleted]

No one wants to lose his or her legs. Of course it's her fault that she lost them, but it definitely wasn't her purpose when she decided to do this.

That doesn't mean she isn't deserving of sympathy. She made one mistake and her life will never be the same. It's a sad thing.

No, she isn't undeserving of sympathy, same with support from friends and family. She still deserves help. And it IS sad. But (although I don't think he/she was blamed) the conductor of the train doesn't have to take responsibility for it as they could not have known or stopped it. People sue for tiny and ridiculous things.

[The_Narwhal]

While i feel sorry for the girl, it was her fault. When will people learn that trains are dangerous. There are so many deaths and injuries with trains caused by people trying to do stupid things like this with them.

However i do feel sorry for this girl. It must be horrible losing your legs.

[Gandalf]

I have little sympathy, except the fact she lost her legs but these teens were tress passing, and the driver most likely can't do anything to prevent it, once a person is being dragged along by a heavy train.

These circumstances really cause train drivers mental issues.

[Peace God]

well i guess sometimes you just have to go out on a limb...

lets hope she can stay on the right track after something traumatic like that...

lol, train > hopping

ok ill stop now

[Genghis Khan]

well i guess sometimes you just have to go out on a limb...

lets hope she can stay on the right track after something traumatic like that...

lol, train > hopping

ok ill stop now

Oh cmon dude, this is getting pretty lame

C-c-c-combo breaker.

[crazyhyperway]

i am sorry for her but, that was a stupid move