Being hit by a train is about as unforgiving as physics gets. Trains are heavy—often weighing over 100 tons—and they don’t stop quickly, even with emergency brakes engaged. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, a typical freight train traveling at 55 mph needs over a mile to come to a complete stop.
That means if you’re on the tracks, you’re not going to outrun it. The injuries range from severe contusions and fractures to traumatic amputations and, tragically, death. Among survivors, the most common issues are crush injuries to the lower limbs, spinal damage, and traumatic brain injuries from the impact or the fall.
