Man struck by train in Davenport

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By Jennifer DeWitt | Saturday, May 10, 2008 3:56 PM CDT | () comments

A Davenport man was struck and injured by a train earlier this afternoon as he was attempting to put a coin on the rail, a witness said.

Robert Wrisberg, 47, received a head injury when he was hit by a ladder on a railcar near the end of the train, according to his nephew, Kyle Ostrander, who was with him at the time.

“I tried to pull him out of the way, but he was knocked out,” Ostrander said.

The nephew then called 911 on his cell phone and performed CPR to revive him. The victim was breathing and conscious when emergency personnel arrived at the scene.

The accident occurred about 2:25 p.m. on the railroad tracks that run under Locust Street near Crescent Avenue.

Davenport District Fire Chief Neil Gainey said rescue crews had to use a system of ropes, harnesses and a Stokes basket to get the victim up a rocky incline to the street level and into an ambulance. He was transported to Genesis Medical Center-East Campus, Davenport. His condition was not available.

“We were just messing around,” Ostrander said. “I hope he’s OK.”