In an early morning accident Tuesday, July 9, Local 794 member Kevin Beggs was trapped under a BNSF boxcar, causing him to lose his legs. Currently, Beggs is listed in critical condition at Via Christi on St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kan., where he was flown via helicopter. It has been reported that Beggs has internal injuries and doctors have been struggling to regulate his blood pressure.
Officials don’t yet know what happened at the scene, but it is believed that Beggs fell from the boxcar and was run over and trapped beneath it.
Wellington Fire Chief Tim Hay, who was on the scene, sai that Beggs was working at the BNSF switching station when he fell from the boxcar. Hay said that Beggs allegedly fell to the tracks and was run over and pinned by two of the wheels of the 1,000-plus pound rail car.
Hay contends that BNSF employee Blaine Zeka was very helpful in the rescue when he produced a jack for the rail cars that could simultaneously lift the axel and the wheels at the same time.
“He had the expertise to operate the jack,” Hay said. “He was instrumental in assisting with the 45-minute extrication.”
Beggs has a wife and a son, Eliot, currently serving in Afghanistan. He has been an active member of his Wellington community, having served as the Chamber of Commerce president, ran a bakery and owned the Regent Theater.
Related News
- 3rd Annual Railroad Day on the Hill: SMART-TD leads a growing force for rail safety and labor solidarity
- Rash of Transit Funding Crises May Impact Members from Coast to Coast
- Tesla sparks safety showdown with nation’s rail workers
- Public Comment of SMART-TD Regarding Tesla’s Special Permit Request for Transporting Lithium Batteries by Rail
- Operation Lifesaver campaigns to promote rail safety in 11 states
- New TD Crew Room Flyers Available
- Colorado bill criminalizing transit assault one step closer to becoming law
- Honoring the Legacy of Brother John A. Saunders
- Colorado Transit Worker Safety Bill (House Bill 25-1290)
- Kansas funds passenger rail expansion