Wow. This is the town where I grew up. The intersection is about 1/2 a block from where I had my 2 Way Radio Repair Shop.

I've literally driven across it thousands of times.

Where the road crosses the tracks, it is 4 lanes wide and very well marked. It is however a very busy set of tracks as it is one of the two main lines running west out of St. Louis.

Bummer for the kid. He's lucky that it didn't kill him though.

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Train hits teen in Webster Groves, amputates leg
By Kim Bell
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/29/2008

A young man from Webster Groves whose leg was cut off by a freight train somehow managed to crawl 50 yards for help, police say.

The 19-year-old man flagged down a passing motorist along Big Bend Boulevard about 5:35 p.m. Thursday.

The teen, Joseph Alexander, was airlifted to Barnes-Jewish Hospital, where he underwent surgery this morning and is listed in critical but stable condition. A hospital spokeswoman said the injury was such that saving the leg wasn't possible.

"There is no hope for attachment," said Jennifer Arvin, the hospital's manager of public relations.

The incident happened near Gray and Baker avenues. He was found on the ground, and his leg, some clothing and a skateboard were found about 50 yards west of him.

The motorist who spotted the teen covered him with a blanket and called police.

Alexander was unable to talk to police.

Police found no witnesses to the accident.

About the time of the accident, an eastbound train had been traveling through Webster Groves on the Burlington Northern train tracks. But neither the train's engineer nor conductor was aware the train had hit someone, and the train didn't stop. The train was headed to Galesburg, Ill.

The intersection is marked with flashing-light signals and gate arms.

Police didn't know why Alexander had been on the tracks.

Alexander's family has declined to talk to reporters, Arvin said.