SEPTA train strikes man
Victim, hit while crossing tracks, suffers facial, abdominal injuries
A man was injured when he was struck by a SEPTA train traveling at a low speed at the Pennbrook station Thursday evening, according to Lansdale police. The 34-year-old man suffered facial and abdominal injuries but was responsive, according to police.
Lansdale police Sgt. Dean Miller said at the scene that the man had just arrived at Pennbrook station on a northbound SEPTA train. He had left that train and was crossing the rail tracks toward the opposite side of the station when he was hit
at around 4:52 p.m.
“He was leaving the station, and walking south along Church Road, and as he’s crossing, he’s struck by the train leaving Lansdale, headed to North Wales,” Miller said.
The man was knocked to the ground alongside the rails, and fire and rescue companies were called to help extricate him, according to Miller. The man suffered facial and abdominal injuries and possible fractures, and was taken by PennStar medical helicopter to Penn Presbyterian Hospital around 5:15 p.m.
As of 6 p.m., the northbound SEPTA rail track was open and a SEPTA supervisor was en route to the scene, according to police. There was no information available on when the southbound track would be back open.
Firefighters from the Fairmount Fire Company of Lansdale and the North Penn Fire Company assisted at the scene, as did Lansdale and Upper Gwynedd police and SEPTA transit police and the Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Lansdale.
Church Road was closed from Hancock Road south to Pennbrook Station while the investigation was underway. The stopped SEPTA train blocked the roadway, and passengers on northbound trains had to cross through the stopped southbound train to reach the opposite side of the station. One passenger who asked not to be identified said he
saw the incident happen, and said the victim appeared to be unaware of the train on the opposite side of the tracks as he crossed.
“It was horrible. I just hope the guy’s OK,” he said.
This is a developing story. For updates, visit TheReporterOnline.com.