Ore. Woman Saved by Paramedics After Being Hit by Train

Nov. 16--A woman's leg was severed after she was struck by a TriMet MAX train at the Elmonica Station in Beaverton Monday morning, police said.

The train was headed east just before 9:15 a.m. when it hit 23-year-old Andrea Laing, who was on Southwest 170th Avenue, said Officer Mike Rowe, a Beaverton Police spokesman. Laing's injuries were initially believed to be life-threatening, but police say she is expected to survive.

Briefing at scene of TriMet accident TriMet public information officer asks people to use caution around their vehicles, speaking at the scene where a pedestrian was struck by a TriMet train near the Elmonica/SW 170th station.

Witnesses told police that Laing, who is from Beaverton, appeared distracted and was running north across the tracks wearing earbuds and a hood over her head when she was hit, Rowe said. The train used its horn as it neared Laing, the witnesses said.

Laing was partially trapped underneath the train when police arrived. A paramedic freed her, and firefighters placed a tourniquet on one of her legs, which was amputated in the crash, Rowe said. She was taken to a local hospital.

The paramedic's quick actions likely saved her life, Rowe said.

"This was a tragic incident for Laing, her family, the train operator, passengers and witnesses," Rowe wrote in a news release. "This is a tragic reminder of the importance of paying attention anytime you are near the Max or any train tracks."

He encouraged people to not wear anything that obstructs their vision or hearing.

Laing's coworkers at Kitchen Kaboodle have created a gofundme campaign to help her and her family.

"Our thoughts go out to the person hurt here today," Roberta Altstadt, a TriMet spokeswoman, said at the scene. She added that TriMet is also thinking of others hurt in recent crashes.

Last week, a woman was critically injured after she was struck by a MAX Blue Line train in Gresham. Police said the woman was not paying attention while she crossed the tracks.

A MAX train also collided with a car last week in Northeast Portland, but no serious injuries were reported.

Following Monday's crash in Beaverton, Southwest 170th Avenue was closed for more than two hours. Shuttle buses were running MAX Blue Line passengers between the Southwest Merlo Road and Willow Creek stations, according to TriMet.

Kristyna Wentz-Graff of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report.

-- Rebecca Woolington

503-294-4049; @rwoolington

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