MINNEAPOLIS - Friends of the 11-year-old Minneapolis boy whose leg was severed by a slow-moving train say they were trying to climb across it as they headed toward Webber Park.
Tyshawn Swinehart spends most days playing with his good friend Quentin Moore.
But now that playtime will never be the same.
“We've known each other for a long time. Me and him wanted to play football. But now he doesn't have a chance to play football,” Swinehart said.
Tyshawn, Quentin and another boy were headed toward Webber Park in North Minneapolis. They say a stopped train was blocking their path.
The boys hopped onto the train to climb to the other side, like they've seen other people do, they say.
Tyshawn and the other boy hopped off just as the train lurched forward, but Quentin was behind them.
Quentin didn't jump in time. The train had started moving, and his friends say when he tried, he lost his footing.
“His foot missed and then it went under the ladder, and that's when he fell over. And his shirt got stuck in the wheel. The train started dragging him,” Swinehart said.
“He was crying and yelling and screaming,” Swinehart said.
Tyshawn says he ran to help as the slow-moving train severed one of Quentin's legs.
“I went to go grab him so his other leg wouldn't get cut off,” Swinehart said.
“That was just scary,” said 11-year-old Freeman Robinson.
Quentin's friends say they'll never again take such a dangerous risk.
“We're not going to do dangerous stuff. We're just going to play with him regular games. Invite him over,” Robinson said.
Now they just want Quentin to recover.
“Hope you feel better. We love you,” Swinehart said.