Train collides with jogger

A Columbia Falls teen apparently didn’t see or hear the train barreling down on her Thursday night until it struck with enough force to carry her for a distance before she slid off to the side, miraculously still alive.

Although the 17-year-old remains hospitalized, her injuries were “nothing major, for being hit by a train,” according to Flathead County Sheriff’s Cpl. Nick Salois, who said she should be OK.

Her name has not been released.

The teen was jogging near the tracks just south of the Columbia Falls viaduct a little before 9 p.m. Thursday when she tried to cut in front of an Amtrak train, according to Salois.

Striking her, the westbound engine “scooped her up and held her for a while” before she slid off the right side as it slowed.

He said she wasn’t dragged.

After the train came to a stop, the teen was located close to the rear car near the North Fork store under the viaduct.

Salois said authorities “don’t have anything firm” on the train’s speed at the time of impact or immediately before, nor would he comment on how long it took the train to stop after impact.

“I can’t be 100 percent sure how fast it was going,” he said, speculating the train was traveling anywhere between 40 and 70 mph.

Burlington Northern police, who also are investigating the incident, could not be reached for comment.

“There is nothing to indicate this being anything other than an accident,” said Salois.

He said it appears the engineer saw her around the tracks and blew the whistle, but the teen “looked like she was listening to music and it’s very possible she didn’t hear the whistle.”

A woman who happened to be in the area and witnessed the incident called 911 moments before railroad officials did.

At the scene, the teen was conscious and breathing but had sustained substantial injuries. Three Rivers EMS transported her to Kalispell Regional Medical Center at 9 p.m.

According to Salois, the girl doesn’t remember much of the incident other than EMS caring for her at the scene.

He said authorities are awaiting a video of the incident from Amtrak, as all trains have a camera on the front.

Amtrak was delayed for an hour and 20 minutes, according to Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari. He said no one on board was injured, but didn’t offer further comments on the incident.