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October 8, 2008

Man in wheelchair hit by train, survives

Krystal J. Carman

October 8, 2008 — Irene Holtzhauer couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw a man flying through the air Saturday.

He had been struck by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train at a Claremore crossing, and survived.

“I saw the train, but I didn’t see him,” Holtzhauer said Tuesday.

“Then I saw him fly through the air.”

Willomine “Bill” Walter Gardner of Claremore was driving his motorized wheelchair when he was hit at Sixth Street between Lynn Riggs Boulevard and Owalla Avenue about 2 p.m.

Claremore police reported that Gardner was driving around the crossing arm and was struck by the train engine. The cattle catcher struck Gardner in his wheelchair and threw him off the tracks about four feet, according to the report.

Gardner was cited by police for public intoxication and failure to obey signal indicating approach of oncoming train.

Traffic was halted for approximately one hour.

Holtzhauer was waiting in her car at the crossing when the accident occurred. She recognized Gardner. She is a driver for Pelivan and has transported Gardner on a number of occasions.

“I jumped out of my car and dialed 911,” she said. “When he sat up, I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe he was still alive. I asked him if he had heard or seen the train coming and he said, ‘no.’ He said he didn’t see anything.”

Holtzhauer said a member of Gardner’s family said he suffered a broken arm and underwent surgery Monday at a Tulsa hospital.

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