Police and Fire Report
Wednesday, September 18, 2002
By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer
Napa railroadman'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.
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.
Police are still investigating the accident, Lyerla said.
UPDATE .... 9-19-02 9am
Kent Kahles left leg was crushed and had to be amputated high mid-femur, the Doctors are telling them(the Kahles family) that he is a Prosthesis candidate. Kent still had enough frame of mind to get his right leg up and out of the way so he was fortunate there.
He was in Cardiac Arrest, lost 4 pints of blood before Medics brought him back.
The doctors also cite Kent's excellent physical condition as good cause for his recovery.
Back to railroad remote control operator
