Published: June 23, 2009 11:16 pm         

Father, toddler son struck by train in North Terre Haute

NORTH TERRE HAUTE — A man and his toddler son were undergoing treatment at Indianapolis hospitals Tuesday evening after a train knocked them off a trestle and into Otter Creek, where their neighbors were swimming.

Temperatures passed 90 degrees with humidity higher yet throughout the day, sending dozens of people in the North Fruitridge and Tuttle Avenue area across wooded railroad tracks and into Otter Creek.

Mark Priehs, 21, his 3-year-old son, Braden, and Mark’s 17-year-old sister were crossing the tracks when a northbound CSX train came through about 4:30 p.m., knocking Priehs and his son into the water, according to Chief Deputy Greg Ewing of the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department.

The Otter Creek Volunteer Fire Department and sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene, from which Mark Priehs was transported by helicopter directly to Methodist Hospital. Braden initially was transported by ambulance to Union Hospital at Terre Haute, then taken by helicopter to Riley Hospital for Children, Ewing said.

“Evidently, it’s a common swimming area down there,” Ewing said, noting that technically swimmers there are trespassing in a very dangerous area. “You don’t win when it’s against a train.”

Ewing confirmed that the train belongs to CSX Railroad and was heading north on the tracks to Clinton.

“When they saw the people on the trestle, they threw the engine into emergency,” he said, adding that the train was moving about 25 mph and traveled about 1,700 feet after knocking the two off the trestle before coming to a stop.

According to Ewing, witnesses said people yelled from the water to get off the tracks. The 17-year-old managed to get off before the train came, but Priehs grabbed his son and tried to stand on the edge of the tracks’ west side to avoid the train.

“Unfortunately, he picked the wrong side,” Ewing said, noting that the east side of the tracks contains a small walkway, but that the west side is right on the edge. “Basically, he didn’t have any room.”

A railing along the side of the engine struck Priehs, who was holding his son. Ewing said emergency responders believe Priehs also was struck in the head by a part of the engine.

The train was driven by engineer Kevin Brown, 50, Ewing said.

Attempts to contact CSX officials after business hours were unsuccessful.

A condition update was not available Tuesday evening.



Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.s

     

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