Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown Police Department released more information in an updated report concerning the April 21, 2016 accident in Jamestown when man was struck by a BNSF train in the crossing at Second Avenue, Southeast while he was in a wheelchair

The report says 60 year old Dennis Schneider, was attempting to cross the BNSF railroad crossing at about 1:45 p.m. when one of the wheels on his wheelchair got stuck on a railroad track. He was soon after struck by BNSF train.

The report said Schneider, who has cerebral palsy and has been in a wheelchair all of his life, was able to talk with Jamestown Area Ambulance personnel at the scene before being transported to Jamestown Regional Medical Center. The report said he told Jamestown Area Ambulance personnel he was traveling south over the railroad crossing, but couldn’t recall any details about the accident.

The report said the BNSF train was traveling at 35 mph, and the engineer saw Schneider and hit the emergency brake. The train slowed to about 10 mph before it struck Schneider. The engineer sounded the train’s horn once the engineer saw Schneider.

Jamestown police officers had the engineer test some of the train’s equipment like its headlight, bell and horn at the scene of the accident.

The report says, one witness was traveling north on Second Avenue Southeast and saw Schneider at the railroad crossing.

The witness saw Schneider on what she thought was a motorized scooter on the roadway portion of the railroad crossing and his scooter (wheelchair) appeared to be hung up on something. The witness thought Schneider was clear of the railroad tracks.

The report adds that the witness heard the railroad crossing arms activate, and she could hear Schneider hollering. The witness said she heard the train’s brakes activate at the Fourth Avenue Northeast viaduct.

The Jamestown Police Department is waiting for final accident scene measurements from the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

Schneider is now breathing on his own and recovering in a hospital room in CHI Mercy Hospital in Valley City.

Schneider recovering…

Jamestown (CSi) Dennis Schneider is recovering from injuries in a wheelchair, train accident, in Jamestown, at Mercy Hospital in Valley City.

His sister, Sheryl Stansbury says the family is hoping to transferr her brother, to the rehab center in Jamestown.

She says Schneider is breathing on his own and he responds to people when they talk to him.

Stansbury says she doesn’t think her brother remembers the accident. Schneider has cerebral palsy, a condition that put him in a wheelchair at a young age.

The accident happened on April 21, 2016 at the 2nd Avenue Southeast railroad crossing.

Jamestown Assistant Police Chief, John Johnson reports that the accident investigation is almost completed, as the department is waiting for accident scene measurements from the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

A group called Prayer Warriors for Dennis Schneider has a Facebook page where updates on his condition have been posted. The group has been praying for Schneider and his recovery.

Mail a card to Schneider, by sending it to CHI Mercy Hospital, 570 Chautauqua Boulevard, Room 218, Valley City, ND 58072.

 

Fargo  (CSi) Sanford Health  Media relations in Fargo reported as of 4-p.m., Monday Dennis Schneider was still listed in Serious Condition, in the Critical Care Unit.

 

Previous coverage…

Fargo  (CSi)  Hospital officials in Fargo, Sunday morning upgraded 60 year old Dennis Schneider’s Condition from critical  to “serious.”  Mitch Raile with Sanford Health media relations, says  Schneider remains in the critical care unit at Sanford Medical Center, and nurses could not provide more details of Schneider’s injuries.

Schneider was struck  by a westbound BNSF train last Thursday morning, when the motorized chair became stuck in the tracks at the crossing at   Second Avenue, East near First Street, in downtown Jamestown.

The case is still under investigation.   Police Chief Scott Edinger says video from the train’s locomotive is being reviewed, with information and video from BNSF available  in a week or two.

  • Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook
  • Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook
  • Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook
  • Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook
  • Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook
  • Skid marks on sidewalk.  More CSi photos at Facebook Skid marks on sidewalk. More CSi photos at Facebook
  • Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook
  • Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook
  • Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook
  • Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook Train hits wheelchair downtown Jamestown. More CSi photos at Facebook
  • Train blocks 2nd Av E,  7th Av E, & 3rd St SE crossing after accident Train blocks 2nd Av E, 7th Av E, & 3rd St SE crossing after accident
  • Looking north on 2 Ave E.  More photos at Facebook Looking north on 2 Ave E. More photos at Facebook
     

More CSi Photos at Facebook.

Previously…

Jamestown (CSi)   Jamestown Police Department,’s Lt. Robert Opp, Friday morning,  said the man is identified as 60 year old Dennis Schneider, of Jamestown.  More CSi Photos at Facebook.   Friday afternoon, he was listed in critical condition at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo,  that according to Sanford spokesperson Nadine Aljets.

Jamestown Police has wrapped up its investigation into an accident Thursday, involving a BNSF train and an electric chair occupant, at the crossing at Second Avenue, East near First Street, in downtown Jamestown.

Schneider was taken from the scene to Jamestown Regional Medical Center, by Jamestown Area Ambulance Service and later life-flighted to a Fargo hospital.

He was conscious and moving when he was transported by the ambulance service.

No one in the locomotive was injured. The accident occurred in the 1-p.m. hour Thursday.

Lt. Justin Blinsky says the train was westbound, at a relatively low rate of speed when Schneider crossed in front of the train in his wheelchair, and was struck by the train.

Jamestown Police Chief Scott Edinger says witness reports say Schneider got hung up on the tracks while crossing, and was unable to get the wheelchair unstuck.

Edinger says Schneider did not use the quiet zone while crossing the rails, but was in the southbound driving lane of the street.

The train came to a stop within about 75 yards just short of the 1st Avenue crossing.

Police Sgt Mann said Thursday that the crossings of 2nd Ave NE, 7th Ave NE, & 3rd St NE were closed to traffic until the investigation was concluded by investigators from BNSF who were on the scene later, Thursday.

BNSF and officials will be looking at the accident to determine if measures can be taken to prevent this from happening in the future.

At 6:45pm, Thursday, Jamestown Police reported that all crossings had been reopened to normal traffic.

————————————————————–

Previously…

Jamestown (CSi) Jamestown Police is investigating an accident involving a BNSF train and a man in a motorized wheelchair, at the crossing at Second Avenue East,  near First Street in downtown Jamestown, ND.  More CSi Photos at Facebook.

The accident occurred in the 1-p.m. hour.  Lt. Justin Blinsky says the train was westbound, at a relatively low rate of speed when the 60 year old man crossed in front of the train in his wheelchair, and was struck by the train.

The man was transported to Jamestown Regional Medical Center, by Jamestown Area Ambulance Service, with undisclosed injuries.  He was conscious and moving when transported by the ambulance.

He was then  air-flighted to a Fargo hospital. The man’s name and his condition were not released pending notification of relatives.

More information as it becomes available.