A University student nearly was run over by a train in a possible suicide attempt under Beta Bridge yesterday.
At about 4 p.m. yesterday, a westbound CSX train had to apply its emergency braking system when the train's crew spotted someone on the tracks under Beta Bridge, CSX Spokeswoman Misty Skipper said.
The crew alerted the train company's dispatcher, who called the Charlottesville police, Skipper said.
The caller told police that a girl was found with her head lying on the tracks, Charlottesville Police Sgt. Steve Upman said.
Police arrived at the scene shortly after the train stopped and took the girl into custody with the assistance of the conductor.
The girl, whom police did not identify by name, will remain in police custody pending mental evaluation, Upman said.
Upman said he was told the girl had been cooperative. Witnesses indicated otherwise, however, saying two or three men chased the girl down the railroad tracks after the train stopped before one of them tackled her.
Two men came out of the suddenly stopped train and ran after the girl, third-year College student M. Bickers said.
"Right as I looked over the side [of the bridge], a girl shot out, followed by two hefty guys," said Bickers, who walked over from nearby Culbreth Theater when she heard a loud crashing noise as the train came to a sudden halt.
By that time, a small crowd of students had gathered on the bridge to watch the unfolding incident, second-year College student Jeremy Tatge said.
"One of the men overtook her and pushed her down," Bickers said. "They could barely hold her down."
The girl continued to struggle as a police officer arrived and handcuffed her, she added.
At least one man ran from near Culbreth down a steep hill into the hollow containing the train tracks and joined in the chase, Tatge said.
Police brought the girl to Region Ten, a Charlottesville mental health organization, for psychological testing, Upman said. She will remain in custody for at least 72 hours if found in need of medication or counseling.
"It's not uncommon for a train to be used" as a suicide method, Upman said. "However, it's not one of the more notable methods."
Skipper said the girl was fortunate.
"Obviously, the trespasser was very lucky because it's not always possible to stop a train," she said.
The train was probably travelling at a low speed because it was passing through a heavily populated area, she added.
The train line, which snakes westward through Charlottesville and crosses under Rugby Road at Beta Bridge, has not caused safety problems in the past, because it doesn't run close to homes or businesses, Upman said.
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