DENVER—A police commander said Wednesday that authorities will not issue a trespassing ticket to a Colorado State University student whose legs were severed when she tried to hop a moving train.
Police Cmdr. Jeff Satur said Anna Beninati has more important things to worry about after losing both legs near her knees when she slipped under the freight train’s wheels in the northern Colorado town of Longmont.
“We’re a compassionate police department,” he said.
Beninati, 17, of Sandy, Utah, was listed in serious condition at Denver Health Medical Center on Tuesday. A hospital spokeswoman didn’t immediately return a call Wednesday.
Two males age 17 and 25 who planned to hop the train with Beninati were cited for trespassing on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s right-of-way.
Police also plan to issue a trespassing ticket to a 21-year-old who was in the group but haven’t been able to locate him, although they have spoken with him on the phone, Satur said.
Satur said he will seek an arrest warrant if the man doesn’t show up at the police station to get his ticket.
Beninati and the three males had gone to Denver earlier Monday and were trying to get back to Fort Collins, home of Colorado State, Satur said. A friend with a car got them from Denver to Longmont, about the halfway mark for the 60-mile trip, and they planned to ride the freight train the rest of the way, Satur said.
The 17-year-old male, who is from Fort Collins, got aboard the train but quickly jumped off, suffering abrasions on his left arm, Satur said.
Satur identified the third male as Charles Hamilton, 25, of Gillette, Wyo. He didn’t get aboard the train and wasn’t injured. Investigators believe he pulled the girl away from the train after she was hurt.
