Galva man survives train allegedly passing over him

A Galva man survived a brush with death while apparently laying between the tracks when a freight train passed over him Wednesday night at 10:15 p.m.

Timothy Mejia, 50, told ambulance workers he had laid down between the tracks when an eastbound freight train ran over him.

Galva Police Officer Chris Edwards was at the Southwest Fourth Avenue crossing when the train came to a stop and Mejia came walking from the west side of the crossing, according to Galva Police Chief Jerry Clark on Thursday morning.

Mejia told Galva-Bishop Hill Emergency Medical Service workers that he got up after the train had stopped.

Mejia had a laceration on his forehead and a hand, according to Clark. He was taken to Kewanee Hospital, where he was transported by ground ambulance to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

His condition is not known, Clark said.

The incident remains under investigation by Galva Police and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.