The Norman Transcript

Headlines

Discussion

August 14, 2012

Man run over by train making strong recovery

By Caitlin Schudalla The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — A 45-year-old Norman man, who lost both legs after being struck by a train early Wednesday, is making a strong recovery, his mother said Monday.

Mitchell Hammons was struck by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway train about 3:15 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Symmes Street and the tracks’ intersection.

“(Mitchell) is the talk of the hospital — everybody is saying he should have bled out in 5 minutes, he’s ‘the boy who lived’,” said Hammons’ mother, Marilyn Casetta. “So many hospital staff have said they don’t know how he could survive so much blood loss.”

Casetta said Hammons accidentally stepped in front of the train while walking home, and did not hear the train approaching because he was listening to music on headphones.

“He felt the vibration of the train approaching and attempted to run, but because he wore a heavy leg brace from a knee injury or because he was panicked, he tripped and fell and couldn’t clear the tracks in time,” Casetta said.

Miraculously, Hammons maintained consciousness and was able to pull himself away from the tracks, in spite of having suffered the loss of both legs. He was ultimately hospitalized at the OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City.

“So many people did extraordinary things that night to save Mitchell’s life. We are especially grateful to the engineer who radioed for help and we would love to thank him in person if possible,” Casetta said.

Since the accident, Hammons has undergone four surgeries to amputate both legs above the knee, but Casetta said he has made a very fast recovery and maintained such a positive disposition that he is a popular presence among hospital staff and patients alike.

Originally expected to stay in intensive care for two weeks, Hammons was released after only two days, and is using every opportunity to imbue the situation with humor.

“Mitchell has been answering the phone as ‘Lieutentant Dan’ from Forest Gump and constantly making puns about ‘not having a leg to stand on’,” Casetta said, laughing. “He told me, ‘I’ve decided I’m just me with shorter legs’.”

Casetta said Hammons’ and his family’s biggest concern at this point, aside from continued success in recovery, is letting everyone know he is alive and well, both physically and emotionally.

“We wanted to make it very clear to everyone — Mitchell is not dead, he’s recovering very well, and this injury was an accident not an attempted suicide,” Casetta said.

Hammons is already anticipating the challenge of regaining mobility through prosthetics, focusing on the positive aspects with the support of his family.

“My son has been in near constant pain for 10 years as a result of the knee injury which had him in a brace. Since that’s no longer an issue, he won’t be suffering that pain anymore,” Casetta said. “He told me he’s excited that he’ll be able to run again.”

 

Caitlin Schudalla 366-3541 cschudalla@ normantranscript.com

 

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Headlines
  • Oklahoma Tornado Disoriented and displaced residents make their way back to devastated homes

    Sparks of joy lit up grief-stricken eyes from time to time on Wednesday after Moore residents were allowed back into their neighborhoods for the first time after Monday’s EF-5 tornado devastated much of the city....

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

  • dog_wreckage More shelters in forecast

    MOORE — Ten children are dead, and Mayor Glenn Lewis wants tornado shelters included in all new homes built in Moore. A proposed municipal ordinance would require a shelter either inside or outside....

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

  • clean up 19 School administrators focused on the recovery, future

    MOORE — Just days after Moore Public Schools suffered the loss of nine students and complete destruction of Plaza Towers and Briarwood Elementary schools, administrators take it a day at a time, as details continue to emerge from affected ...

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

  • Challpress1 State Senate approves $45 million from Rainy Day fund for relief

    OKLAHOMA CITY — The state Senate voted Wednesday to take $45 million from the state Rainy Day Fund for immediate tornado disaster relief....

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

  • tornadomom Mother endures labor during tornado

    Shayla Taylor was ready to give birth to her second child just as the impending destruction of Monday’s EF-5 tornado bore down on the Moore Medical Center.

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

  • Oklahoma visitor had brush with tornado’s fury

    MOORE — Tim Lawrence was just in town to visit his family, but he had to huddle close with them in a storm cellar Monday afternoon as the tornado swept through the neighborhood....

    May 23, 2013

  • Family shelter saves 11 lives

    MOORE — Ronnie and Sally Horn built their retirement home 15 years ago. It was a vision of comfort set against a wooded background. The yard was well manicured. The picket fence was white. The pond out back was as clear as any in Oklahoma. ...

    May 24, 2013

  • OU ready to keep victims all summer

    Juan Flores moved into the Walker Center dormitory Wednesday at the University of Oklahoma. He was shown to his new room, pre-furnished with a bed, desk and closet. He spent his first evening watching football on one of the communal TVs in ...

    May 24, 2013

  • Expert: Schools need shelters

    Ninety-four percent of Oklahoma schools do not have tornado shelters, according to Gov. Mary Fallin, even though at least one weather expert says they should be standard. With two Moore schools destroyed in Monday’s EF-5 tornado — and ...

    May 24, 2013

  • Tornado took town’s youngest as it swept through Moore

    MOORE — One loved the spotlight. Another was nicknamed “The Wall” because of the force he brought to the soccer field. When a top-of-the-scale EF-5 tornado ripped through Moore, it took with it 24 lives. Seven of them were children at ...

    May 24, 2013