On rare occasions, the same force that kills most people can save them when they are run over by trains.
Todd Hirsh is living proof of that.
At 3:11 a.m. Saturday, Hirsh was lying on Longmont train tracks in the 400 block of Atwood Street when a Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train ran over his feet, severing most of his toes, authorities said.
The 76-car train was 80 feet south of the point of impact before the engineer was able to bring it to a stop, said Sgt. Mike Bell of the Longmont Police Department.
Longmont firefighters pulled Hirsh out from under the first axle of the second engine, Longmont police Officer Kris Ford said.
Hirsh was taken to Longmont United Hospital with what were considered non-life-threatening injuries, Bell said.
Hospital spokesman Matt Hartz ler said that Hirsh was in the intensive care unit in serious but stable condition.
Hirsh is on parole on a burglary conviction and smelled of alcohol, Ford said.
“He is extremely fortunate,” said Lt. Phil Champagne, a spokesman for the Denver Fire Department.
Champagne said train wheels can cauterize wounds, so victims don’t bleed to death.
About 22 years ago, a Denver homeless man crawled under a train to sleep and when it began moving, his legs were severed, Champagne said.
As the man reached for his legs, his arms were amputated.
He didn’t bleed, though, and survived.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
