Train hits, kills man
Victim dies on way to Denver hospital after train hits him

An orange evidence marking cone rests neaxt to a pair of eye-glasses Wednesday after a pedestrian was struck by a train at the Second Street railroad crossing in downtown Gallup. The man was transported to Denver for medical treatment but died in the hospital parking lot. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff writer

Gallup police crime scene investigator Emery Holly picks up a hiking boot Wednesday morning while gathering evidence after a pedestrian was struck by a train at the Second Street railroad crossing in downtown Gallup. The man was transported to Denver for medical treatment but died in the hospital parking lot. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

GALLUP — A Gallup man was struck by an oncoming train while walking across the Second Street crossing Wednesday morning.

Vernon Long, 40, later died from his injuries as emergency personnel were en route to the Gallup Municipal Airport to transport him by air to a Denver hospital.

Long and another man were walking south across the tracks when he was struck by the train at about 11:50 a.m.

“The first subject made it across, but the second was hit,” Erin Toadlena-Pablo, a spokeswoman for the Gallup Police Department said.

The pair reportedly ignored the flashing lights and barrier that indicated a train was coming.

After the impact, passers-by assisted the severely injured man until emergency personnel arrived at the scene.

The collision knocked Long’s shoes from his feet and his glasses from his face. He reportedly sustained a large cut across his head and was taken to Gallup Indian Medical Center for treatment.

Officers reported Long was awake, but combative following the collision. He succumbed to his injuries Wednesday afternoon.

Detectives temporarily shut down the crossing to gather evidence from the scene; however, the area was reopened by early afternoon.