In brief: Man hopping train falls, may lose legs

A man trying to jump onto a moving train in Spokane Valley on Monday slipped and fell under the boxcar, nearly severing his legs.

Assistant Fire Marshal Bill Clifford said a woman passing by the tracks in the area of North Fancher Road and East Rutter Avenue heard him screaming and stopped to call 911 just after 12:30 p.m.

Had she not stopped, “it’s hard to say if anybody else would have heard this young man screaming,” Clifford said. “She really did save his life.”

He said the 30-year-old man was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. It was unclear if medical personnel were going to be able to reattach his legs.

Clifford said the man had a Spokane Valley address listed on his identification but it is not known if he was living there recently.

The train, which doesn’t reach more than 20 or 25 mph in that area, was coming to a stop when the man fell beneath the car.

Jennifer Pignolet

Spokane schools ready to select bus operator

Spokane Public Schools’ board is expected to vote tonight on which bus company will provide transportation for the district’s students during the next five years.

District administrators first narrowed the choices to three companies: Durham Student Services, First Student and Santa Barbara.

The administration will recommend Durham, the current provider, to receive the new contract despite costing $9.7 million annually – about $300,000 more than the lowest bidder, First Student.

“Durham has a much better safety record, and that’s really important to me,” Superintendent Shelley Redinger said. “They are responsible for our students to and from. Durham has also done a good job at looking for cost savings, and will continue to do that.”

The Spokane Public Schools’ board meeting is 7 p.m. at 200 N. Bernard St.

Jody Lawrence-Turner

Mead High student hit by car on way to school

A Mead High School student was struck by a vehicle on her way to school Tuesday morning.

Spokane County sheriff’s Deputy Craig Chamberlin said the girl was taken to a local hospital but her injuries were not life-threatening.

He said a Chevrolet Tahoe that hit her on West Hastings Road was driven by a woman. It is not yet known who was at fault, Chamberlin said.

There is a crosswalk in the area, but it is unclear where the girl was when she was hit.

Jennifer Pignolet