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Man trying to cross border loses foot to train
San Diego Union - Tribune ^ | 5/31/07 | Greg Gross

Posted on 05/31/2007 9:22:41 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

SAN DIEGO – A man being pursued after he illegally crossed into the United States from Mexico was run over by a freight train late Thursday morning as he tried to escape a Customs agent near the San Ysidro crossing, federal authorities reported.

The man lost several fingertips on his right hand and had his left foot severed. He was taken to a San Diego hospital. There was no word on his condition.

The incident took place in an area known to Border Patrol agents as “the loading docks,” a spot just east of the San Ysidro port of entry where the steel-mat border wall has a sliding gate to allow freight trains to pass back and forth between San Diego and Tijuana.

According to Vince Bond, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the incident began about 11 a.m. when five people tried to illegally enter the country aboard a freight train.

Mexican police pulled two of the five from the train while it was still in Mexican territory, and Border Patrol agents nabbed the other three on the U.S. side after the train stopped for inspection, Bond said.

However, one of the two collared by Mexican authorities pulled away and ran through the open gate onto U.S. soil. When a U.S. Customs agent tried to stop him, he ducked under the train – just as it started rolling again.

The train rolled over the man's hand and foot, severing his foot above the ankle, Bond said.

“The train was going very slowly, no more than about 2 mph,” he said. “A couple of Border Patrol agents who are trained as first-responders helped to stabilize him until the ambulance arrived.

“It was just a terrible accident.”


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; US: California
KEYWORDS: aliens; border; borderpatrol; california; cross; foot; immigrantlist; loses; sanysidro; train; trying
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To: Rembrandt

dang ...and he just got finished telling someone that he would give his right arm to be in the US....
sorry just couldnt help myself.


21 posted on 05/31/2007 9:58:41 PM PDT by donnab
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To: NormsRevenge
There was no word on his condition.

Sure, there is... Footloose and not fancy free.

22 posted on 05/31/2007 10:02:17 PM PDT by roadcat
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To: gogogodzilla

in mexico they won’t treat you without cash, and if they do, they won’t release you until you pony up the cash

i remember a few years back, a man i believe that was from san diego, ended up in a hospital (if you can call it that) in mexico, his family wanted him asap back to the US for treatment, they wouldn’t release him, and he died in mexico or after they finally extorted some dough


23 posted on 05/31/2007 10:11:46 PM PDT by machogirl
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To: NormsRevenge

the other illegals that witnessed the accident will say that the border patrol pushed or pulled him under the train

i wonder if they will all get a “get out of jail free” pass for their “cooperation” in getting to the bottom of this “hate crime”?


24 posted on 05/31/2007 10:14:30 PM PDT by machogirl
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To: donnab

sick, twisted thoughts (sarcasm)


25 posted on 05/31/2007 10:16:03 PM PDT by machogirl
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To: NormsRevenge

I’m an atheist, but wouldn’t the Christian thing to do be to pray for the man who lost his foot?


26 posted on 05/31/2007 10:18:40 PM PDT by wideminded
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To: TheZMan; NormsRevenge
> He should be easier to catch next time when he’s on crutches.

He can't get far on foot.

27 posted on 05/31/2007 10:18:42 PM PDT by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!)
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To: wideminded
I’m an atheist, but wouldn’t the Christian thing to do be to pray for the man who lost his foot?

Oh shut up. That kind of crap will buy you a suspended login.
28 posted on 05/31/2007 10:23:55 PM PDT by TheZMan (That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends...)
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To: NormsRevenge
A man being pursued after he illegally crossed into the United States from Mexico was run over by a freight train late Thursday morning as he tried to escape a Customs agent near the San Ysidro crossing, federal authorities reported. The man lost several fingertips on his right hand and had his left foot severed. He was taken to a San Diego hospital. There was no word on his condition.

And who cares how he is? What he was doing is ILLEGAL. What part of that don't these idiots get?
29 posted on 05/31/2007 11:09:40 PM PDT by WasDougsLamb (What part of "ILLEGAL" don't you comprehend?!)
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To: NormsRevenge

John Edwards will be arriving shortly to sue the railroad and the Boarder Patrol.


30 posted on 05/31/2007 11:11:50 PM PDT by reg45
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To: NormsRevenge

I walked up to that railroad gate last time I was in TJ....its above the customs crossing in San Ysidro where the two railroads interchange cars and such. Reminded me of a James Bond movie and checkpoint charlie.

I was there maybe 5 minutes before I saw the USBP looking at me from up atop a hill.


31 posted on 05/31/2007 11:12:02 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
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To: NormsRevenge

John Edwards will be arriving shortly to sue the railroad and the Border Patrol.


32 posted on 05/31/2007 11:12:19 PM PDT by reg45
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To: BurbankKarl

33 posted on 05/31/2007 11:16:31 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
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To: wideminded
“I’m an atheist, but wouldn’t the Christian thing to do be to pray for the man who lost his foot?”

Yes.

I think it’s fair to say that many are fed up and annoyed with the illegal entry into our country. The posts are cynical in nature, but really just the venting of mostly good folk who are up to here with illegal activity and our government’s sponsorship of such.

While many of the posts are sarcastic in nature (when will he sue the US, when will the border agents be arrested, being treated here in US for free) I think there is a kernel of truth to the “humor”. When will this person sue the rail company? If you or I were hit by the train we would probably be cited or fined.

Lawlessness abounds in our country. Cynicism, snarky commentary and hardening of the heart are not the greatest challenges that we face.

34 posted on 05/31/2007 11:33:55 PM PDT by incredulous joe ("Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?" -- Stephen Wright)
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To: TheZMan

“I’m an atheist, but wouldn’t the Christian thing to do be to pray for the man who lost his foot?

Oh shut up. That kind of crap will buy you a suspended login.”

A. I don’t CARE what your religious leanings may or may not be.

B. Those who really ARE Christians will pray for him.

C. Taking a snide position helps no one.

D. If you care about “abuse”, report it.

E. While I feel some empathy for the injured party, I have NO sympathy for the recipient of self-inflicted wounds which are the result of very foolish and illegal acts.


35 posted on 06/01/2007 4:03:08 AM PDT by JB in Whitefish
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