A man's legs were severed after he tried to hop on a moving train car and slipped under the wheels Saturday night.
The 54-year-old victim, whose name was not released pending family notification, tried to jump onto a westbound Union Pacific car near 700 West and South Temple about 7:30 p.m., said Salt Lake Police Lt. Sandra Urry.Local resident Lance Smith, who was passing by on his way home, saw the victim caught on the train and pulled him off, Urry said. Paramedics were called, and the man was taken to LDS Hospital in critical condition.
"He's just lucky that guy was walking by," Urry said. "Otherwise, he probably would be dead."
Both of the man's legs were cut off below the knee, but surgeons may be able to reattach them, Urry said. Both severed limbs were transported to the hospital with the victim.
The train crew apparently never realized what had happened and continued on their course.
Last February, 25-year-old Patrick Rudy Vigil's right leg was severed at mid-thigh after he fell off a slow-moving freight train passing near 500 West and 200 South. Vigil was trying to evade police who were looking for him in connection with a robbery.
In December, 22-year-old Gabino Nieto's arm was severed by a train after he tried to jump onto an eastbound train near 76 S. 900 West.