Florida Jogger Loses Legs to Train

Jul. 6--POMPANO BEACH A 32-year-old woman jogging Thursday morning had her legs severed by a freight train, authorities said.

The woman, identified as Cheryl Ann Risse, of Pompano Beach, was expected to survive her injuries after going into surgery in the afternoon, said Keyla Concepcion, spokeswoman for the Broward Sheriff's Office. It was not clear what happened before the train struck her in the 2100 block of North Dixie Highway, Concepcion said.

Risse lives across the tracks from the Pompano Beach Airpark, which has a popular jogging trail.

According to Concepcion, Risse often jogged across the tracks on her way to the airpark. She was running just before noon, listening to her iPod music player and crossing the tracks when a Florida East Coast Railway freight locomotive rolled her way. The train struck her, severing both legs below the knees.

The engineer kept going south, unaware of the accident until he saw the flashing emergency lights as he was heading back north minutes later.

A passing deputy noticed Risse waving her arms. When paramedics arrived, she called out for her fiance and complained her feet hurt, even though her legs had been severed.

"My feet are on fire," she told Tony Long, a battalion chief for Pompano Beach Fire-Rescue, who responded to the scene. "Do you think you can put the fire out? They're really hurting."

Paramedics rushed her to North Broward Medical Center in critical condition.

Her fiance, Dave Abate, said the couple were engaged but didn't yet have a wedding date. He said she sold cars for a living, but was too distraught to say any more.

Accidents like this happen too frequently and people need to be more aware when crossing the tracks, said Brian Nicholson, a spokesman for the railroad. He also pointed out that Risse did not cross at a railroad crossing.

"If you look at the amount of crossings we have in South Florida, just by sheer numbers, there is a lot of potential for things to happen," he said. "And it does occur more than we want it to."

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