"Medical crews found him laying on the (floor of the engine cab) complaining of hip pain, unable to stand up, unable to use his legs," Stitzel said.
The train was headed to Cincinnati with with 49 cars of mixed freight, said Melanie Cost, CSX spokeswoman. It was stopped on railroad tracks at Taylorsville MetroPark off East National Road (U.S. 40).
Stitzel said he wasn't sure how the engineer, whose name was not released, was injured, but that it did happen on the locomotive.
"He was still on top of the train, on the side of the train in the walkway, when the injury occured," Stitzel said.
The tracks were shut down in both directions while crews worked to retrieve the man. He was brought on a Gator from the tracks to a waiting ambulance. Stitzel said medics pushed the six-wheeled all-terrain vehicle to give their patient a less bumpy ride off-road.
"It's not a serious injury, " Stitzel said. "The worst part of the injury was getting him out of the train engine itself."
Cost did not release the name of the engineer, but confirmed he was inspecting the engine at the time of the accident.
"Safety at CSX is priority and the company is cooperating with local law enforcement to investigate the circumstances of the incident," she said.
CSX also called Environmental Management Specialists to the scene to check for a possible oil or diesel fuel leak as part of the engine malfunction.
About the Author