Injured transient found on railcar

Posted on Thursday, January 28, 2010

By CHUCK CLEMENT, Staff Reporter 01/28/2010

A transient male was found injured on board a railcar near the Farmers Ag Center Wednesday afternoon and was transported by ambulance to Madison Community Hospital.

Tom Paradeis, a Farmers Ag Center employee, found the man while he and other workers were unloading fertilizer at the facility on the west side of Madison, according to Corey Gerry, the ag center's manager. Paradeis heard the man calling for help and found him in a niche on a fertilizer railcar. Gerry said the male was riding on the car's frame exposed to the elements, and Paradeis had to search to locate his exact position.

The transient needed help due to injuries to his legs. Gerry described him as middle-aged and bundled up in layers of clothing. The man said he had no feeling in his legs and also mentioned that he thought they were broken.

"He was coherent and talked to us," Gerry said. "Mentally, he seemed to be in very good shape."

An emergency call was sent for assistance at about 5:30 p.m. and the Madison Police and ambulance came to the scene. The Madison Police reported that the male was transported to Madison Community Hospital.

When the Madison Police were contacted regarding the incident, they provided information about the call but would not provide the man's name.

The man told employees at the Farmers Ag Center that he had boarded the railcar on Saturday in the Kansas City area, but was unable to get off or receive assistance until his arrival in Madison.

Gerry said the male was wearing some heavy clothing, but he wasn't completely clothed in winter gear to protect against his exposure to subzero weather.

According to Gerry, the transient was found while workers were unloading a 62-car train carrying fertilizer. He said the train originated in Galveston, Texas.

©Madison Daily Leader 2010