Florida Jogger Loses Legs When Hit by Freight Train

POMPANO BEACH -- The legs of a 32-year-old jogger were severed by a freight train Thursday morning, authorities said.

The woman, identified as Cheryl Ann Risse of Pompano Beach, was expected to survive her injuries after going into surgery later in the day, said Keyla Concepcion, spokeswoman for the Broward County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities did not know how Risse came into the path of the train off North Dixie Highway.

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

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

The train's locomotive 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 she could still feel her legs.

"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.

The Sheriff's Office couldn't explain what led to the accident.

At first, authorities speculated Risse may have tripped on the tracks. They also said noise from the train may have been drowned out by her iPod.

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 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 said Risse was not at a railroad crossing and technically was trespassing.

"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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