A Pennington Gap man was listed in critical condition at Holston Valley Medical Center Thursday morning after being struck by a CSX Railroad train late Wednesday.
A CSX spokeswoman said the accident involved only a switcher engine from a local coal yard.
Pennington Gap Police Chief Mike Nunley said Jessie Dale Clark, 39, 510 Elpis St., was struck by the engine at approximately 11:30 p.m. at a rail crossing on North Kentucky Street, just a few hundred yards from the Route 421 intersection at Leeman Field.
The chief said the train engineer reported that he was making his regular night run when he saw something lying on the tracks between the rails. When he realized it was a person, the engineer executed an emergency stop, but the engine was unable to stop before striking Clark.
Nunley said the engineer reported that the individual never sat up or otherwise moved.
The chief said when he arrived on the scene, Clark was still underneath the train engine. Within minutes, the Pennington Gap Rescue Squad, fire department, Liberty Ambulance Service, Virginia State Police, Lee County Sheriff's Department and other rescue personnel began arriving on the scene.
Clark was removed from under the train and transported by ambulance to Lee Regional Medical Center and eventually on to Holston Valley. Stormy weather prevented Clark from being flown to Kingsport, said Nunley.
Clark suffered from a head injury, broken legs and possible internal injuries, said the chief.
Nunley said alcohol may have played a role in the accident, as Clark smelled of an alcoholic beverage and a broken beer bottle was found at the scene.
The Pennington Gap Police Department is still investigating the incident, he said. Nunley thanked all the other police agencies and rescue personnel for their assistance.
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