Train amputates legs of man lying on tracks in Calgary

A man whose legs were amputated by a train in Calgary was lying on the tracks and a woman was nearby, says a Canadian Pacific Railway official.

The man, 30, was trapped under a locomotive in a southeast area south of Glenmore Trail near Fisher Road at about 4:30 a.m. MT on Wednesday.

He was freed by emergency crews and taken to hospital in critical, life-threatening condition, authorities said.

A 35-year-old woman, who was also on the tracks but wasn't hit, was taken to hospital for observation.

Canadian Pacific spokesman Ed Greenberg said it appeared the man was lying on the tracks when the train came along.

Greenberg said the crew went into emergency mode to try to avoid hitting the man, but couldn't stop the train in time.

Crew members will be offered crisis counselling, he added.

The railway has put up fences and other barriers to reinforce the message that people should stay off the tracks, Greenberg said.

"Not only is it illegal, but it's also very dangerous. Anytime is train time and it's not a safe practice to use tracks as pathways or corridors."

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