Wis. man remains critical after train-van crash
MILWAUKEE (AP) — A West Allis man who was seriously injured while trying to rescue his 2-year-old son from a minivan before a freight train hit remains in critical condition at a Milwaukee area hospital.
Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital spokeswoman Kathy Sieja (SHAH'-ah) said Tuesday a police officer who helped in the rescue is in satisfactory condition.
The van, driven by Monica Ensley-Partenfelder, got stuck on the tracks Monday morning in Elm Grove. Her son was in a car seat in the back.
Her husband, Scott Partenfelder, was driving behind the van in another car.
He and Elm Grove police officer John Krahn were trying to free the boy when the train struck. The child was not seriously hurt.
The men were rushed to Froedtert, where they underwent surgery Monday.
May 27, 2009 at 8:32 a.m.
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I hope everyone recovers, but the one thing that I still don't understand is, why would you sit on tracks, whether waiting for traffic or whatever, never knowing if a train would approach??? I NEVER sit on tracks for any reason.
May 26, 2009 at 9:34 p.m.
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fldpan Have you never misjudged a situation when you were driving?
May 26, 2009 at 8:46 p.m.
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You are completely wrong. The police even told her that she was at no fault and that it was unforeseen and unavoidable. They also told her that if wouldn't have moved the van forward and to the right at a slight angle, her baby would have received the full impact of the hit. The train hit the front portion of the van instead of the side door where the baby was. She did everything right except predict that traffic was going to abruptly stop as she was crossing. They also told her that if it would have been seconds later, it would have been the car behind her that would have been in that situation. The car behind her was interviewed and they admitted that they would have been there because traffic was flowing at a smooth pace. The bars came down immediately as she was stopped from traffic ahead of her. Please know the facts before typing stupid things that hurt people that are already hurting.
May 26, 2009 at 6:09 p.m.
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fldpan- so you must know the mother personally to say she did all this out of stupidity..?.. I mean geesh, give her a break people sometimes get nervous at these sort of stops when the lights go on- and the rails come down..I am sure she realizes what she should have done. Thank goodness the child is ok- hope all recover 100% !
May 26, 2009 at 1:54 p.m.
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Wow...those men are hero's this is a tear jerker.
May 26, 2009 at 12:09 p.m.
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Now that is what you call heroes!!!
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