The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

October 2, 2008

Part of Wells man's arm severed by train

By Dan Nienaber

WELLS — A 51-year-old Wells man had part of his right arm cut off Thursday when he attempted to cross a railroad track by crawling under a rail car.

Duane Giese, 51, was conscious and able to talk to the police officer who found him lying between the railroad tracks on the west side of North Broadway Avenue. His arm had been completely cut off between the elbow and wrist.

Jim Ratelle, the first officer to arrive after the incident was reported at 7:25 a.m., said a tourniquet wasn’t necessary because Giese’s blood vessels had been sealed off when the train wheel rolled over it. Ratelle said the portion of Giese’s hand that was cut off was sent with him in the Mayo 3 helicopter that airlifted him to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

“I don’t believe the injuries were life threatening, unless there was something that wasn’t apparent,” Ratelle said.

Giese had gone grocery shopping and was walking home when he stopped to wait for an Iowa, Chicago & Eastern train that was passing, Ratelle said. When the train stopped, Giese attempted to crawl under one of its cars. His arm was amputated when the train started moving in the opposite direction.

That news was provided by a man who watched it happen, Ratelle said.

Marlys Larsen, Giese’s sister, said he lives with his mother, Edna, in Wells and usually cares for her. She was at his house taking care of their mother Thursday night while he was in Rochester.

Larsen said she received a call from someone at St. Marys Hospital at about 9:30 a.m. saying her brother had arrived. The last she had heard Thursday afternoon was that Giese went into surgery at 11 a.m.

“Either they can sew his arm back on or they can’t, but there isn’t much they can tell us over the telephone,” Larsen said.

She was told Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations restricted hospital staff from giving out much information unless they go to the hospital. Larsen said staff would be able to let her know when he was moved to the intensive care unit.

“At least my mom will know he’s out of surgery,” she said.

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