Railroader loses leg in California accident
CLEVELAND, September 19 -- A 46-year-old employee of the California Northern Railroad Company lost his leg in a switching mishap on September 17. The man was using remote control at the time of the accident.
The following article was published in the September 18 issue of the Napa Valley Register’s online newspaper:
Police and Fire Report
Wednesday, September 18, 2002
Napa Valley Register
By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer
Napan's leg severed when train cars collide
A Napa man is in critical but stable condition at Queen of the Valley Hospital today after his left leg was crushed when two train cars collided at a switching yard Tuesday afternoon (September 17).
Kent Kahle, 46, an employee of California Northern Railroad Company, was attaching train cars to an engine using remote control when the accident occurred, Sheriff's Capt. Gene Lyerla said.
Kahle was riding on one of the flat cars used to transport containers when, for an unknown reason, an engine collided with the flatbed, knocking Kahle off the car and pinning him underneath it, Lyerla said.
The accident occurred at about 2:20 p.m. at 498 Napa Junction Road, the railroad company's locomotive storage facility and switching yard.
When American Canyon firefighters arrived at the scene, Kahle was on the ground with major injuries to his left leg, Fire Chief Keith Caldwell said.
"The firefighters immediately began first aid to control the bleeding," Caldwell said.
Kahle was transported by a California Highway Patrol helicopter to the Queen, where he remains in the intensive care unit today (September 18).
Police are still investigating the accident, Lyerla said.
(A link to the article is available here:
http://www.napanews.com/templates/index.cfm?template=story_full&id=713A003F-79D1-4CB4-9A19-DF9554BC0FAF)
Thursday, September 19, 2002
bentley@ble.org
