The 15-year-old boy who lost part of a leg when he was pinned under a train Wednesday evening in Washougal was listed in fair condition at a Portland hospital Thursday.
The boy was rushed to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland after the accident.
Police and paramedics were called to the train tracks south of George Schmid Memorial Park before 7 p.m. Wednesday.
“What we understand was him and a friend of his were crossing the railroad tracks,” Washougal police Cmdr. Allen Cook said.
A train there was stopped or moving very slowly, Cook said. The boy tried going underneath the train to cross the tracks.
“Somehow, he got caught up. His pant leg or something got caught up and a wheel went over his right, lower leg,” Cook said.
Luckily, the boy avoided a second train, heading the opposite direction on the other line, Cook said.
A friend who was with the boy called for help, and Washougal police Officer Casey Handley arrived to apply a tourniquet. A man watching the ball game across the street, a surgeon, ran over to help.
“Our officers carry tourniquets for things just like this,” Cook said.
The crew on the other train, which was going slow enough to stop, helped render aid as well, Cook said.
Cook said the department declined to identify the boy because he’s a minor, and it didn’t intend to recommend any citations.
