Man dragged under speeding light rail train in Denver

Attorney says 62-year-old man was dragged for 35 feet

Newly-released video appears to show an elderly Colorado man being dragged under a train for several seconds after tripping and falling on a light rail platform.

An attorney for the man, Sam Hynes, told a local news station the 62-year-old suffered rib and spinal fractures and a broken arm after he was dragged by a Denver-area light rail train,

"I'm amazed he wasn't killed. I was really shocked," the attorney, David Krivit, told Denver7.

Mr Krivit said his client lost his balance getting off the train last March, after his bicycle became stuck in the train door. He became trapped between the edge of the train and was dragged for 35 feet, the attorney said.

Video obtained from platform security cameras shows a man leaving the train with his bicycle and falling to the ground. He regains his balance slightly before the train hits his bicycle and sends him flying backwards. He then becomes lodged under the train and is dragged for several seconds, before being dislodged when he hits what appears to be a ramp.

The video shows the man lying on the tracks for minutes, apparently unable to get up. Mr Krivit said it was seven minutes before paramedics were called, and four before they showed up.

Mr Hynes has not filed a lawsuit, but has requested an out-of-court settlement with the Regional Transportation District (RTD) to cover his medical expenses.

RTD spokesman Scott Reed told Denver7 that the train operator stopped after the man was dislodged. He claimed the driver’s line of sight made it difficult to see what was going on, but added that the operator “could have used mirrors a bit more effectively”.

Mr Reed did not immediately respond to The Independent’s request for comment.

Mr Krivit said he is working with the department to ensure something like this doesn’t happen in the future.

“We’re sure that the driver involved didn’t intend for this to happen, but it’s all about how we can learn from this situation,” he said.