College student, 17, loses both her legs in horrific accident as she and friends tried to jump on moving train



A 17-year-old college student's legs were severed at the knees after she fell while attempting to jump on a moving train .



Authorities said the Colorado State University student was 'train hopping' with three males between the ages of 17 and 20 when she slipped on the northbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe train around 1:35pm on Monday.



The teenager's name and condition have not yet been released.

Scroll down for video

Horrific: Two men embrace each other after a woman they were travelling with was struck by the moving train in Longmont, Colorado today - one, appearing to have blood on his pants

Tragic: The 17-year-old girl slipped on the northbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe train around 1:35pm

Police told the Denver Post she was transported to Longmont United Hospital and then airlifted to Denver Health Medical Center, where her legs where amputated.



One other man, who was dragged by the train, sustained minor injuries, according to Longmont police commander Jeff Satur.

Another person involved stayed behind until police arrived. A fourth person is suspected missing.



On the tracks: Police investigate after the incident, in which one other person sustained minor injuries

Moving: Authorities said the 100-car train was travelling at 18mph when the incident occurred near the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Atwood Street

Police have issued two of the people tickets for trespassing. All four of the individuals are from Fort Collins, police said.

FREIGHTHOPPING: Also known as train hopping, catching out, or hopping out.

Defined as the hitching of a ride on a railroad freight car for free.

Became popular in the U.S. after the American Civil War as the railroads began pushing westward.

Migrant workers, who became known as hobos, were the most frequent users.

As their numbers fell, freighthopping became the domain of the homeless and thrill-seekers.

It is now increasingly dangerous as the speed of the cars gets faster.

Banned in all U.S. states - but still widely carried out.



It is currently unclear as to why the group jumped aboard the moving train.

But online commentators have speculated that they may have been hitching a free ride back to Fort Collins.

'Allen E' said on the Denver Post forum: 'When I was an undergraduate @ CSU we would hitch hike between Fort Collins and Boulder on Friday to spend the weekend at Tulagi's.



'Cheap pitchers, good music. Free ride down, and free ride back.

'I have to think the kids were returning to Fort Collins the undergraduate way - free.

'To the young woman who suffered the loss, our prayers and thoughts are with you.



'No condemnation from me.

'I might have done the same thing if I knew the trains were headed for Boulder in those days.'



Mr Satur said the incident was a 'terrible' example of the danger of trying to hop a train.



He said: 'It's terrible.



'It really highlights the dangers of trying to hop a train. It is not safe by any means.'

Authorities said the 100-car train was travelling at 18mph when the incident occurred.

It happened near the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Atwood Street and was stopped between Longs Peak Avenue and 15th Avenue.



A police investigation is ongoing.

Watch video here