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Man hit by train

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Derrick Mitchell’s attempt to crawl between two railroad cars to make it to the south side of the tracks resulted in him being hit by train traveling about 30 mph.

Gallup Police Department Detective Charles Wommack said shortly after 5 pm on Oct. 5, Mitchell crawled between the two box cars on the farthest northern tracks, but before we could dart across the two remaining tracks, he was hit by an eastbound train, and sustained multiple injuries.

The railroad crossing gates were down on Third Street and Highway 66 during the time of the incident, likely prompting the man to make the hasty move.

Wommack said that Mitchell didn’t recall his daredevil move that could have ended his life.

“He wasn’t very cooperative at the hospital,” he said.

Mitchell appeared to be intoxicated, although Wommack wasn’t able to confirm at the time of interview.

GPD Capt. Rick White said “the railroad police may charge him with trespassing.”

Mitchell was arrested on Sept. 16 for an his second DWI, with the added charge of “aggravated” for refusing to the breath test.