Longmont police are still piecing together why a 17-year-old girl and three others tried to jump on a moving freight train in Longmont, but two of the four involved were cited with trespassing today.
Charles Hamilton, 25, of Gillette, Wyo., and a 17-year-old boy were cited with trespassing after the two, along with Anna Beninati and another man, tried to hop onto a train passing through Longmont Monday afternoon, said Longmont Police spokesman Cmdr. Jeff Satur.
Beninati slipped as she attempted to jump aboard, and fell underneath the train, severing both of her legs. She remains in serious condition at Denver Health Medical Center.
Beninati will not be cited, Satur said.
“We have a lot of compassion for this young lady,” Satur said. “We just don’t feel it’s in anyone’s interest to charge her and we don’t want to add that extra stress.”
Police are still looking for the 21-year-old man who fled the scene after the accident. The man has been identified, but police are withholding his name.
“We have contacted him and encourage him to come in,” Satur said.
Beninati is a student at Colorado State University. Her family released her name yesterday afternoon along with a statement thanking bystanders who cared for their daughter immediately after the accident.
Jordan Steffen: 303-954-1794 or jsteffen@denverpost.com
