[Southsider2k12]

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...3dd77370e3.html

Stan Maddux Times Correspondent

Another pedestrian has been hit by an Amtrak passenger train in LaPorte County and survived.

The latest was Thursday night in Michigan City where a man, apparently talking on a cellphone beside the tracks, was struck from behind.

Michigan City authorities said Friday that Carlos Cooper Jr., 26, was semi-conscious but unable to talk while being tended to by firefighters.

His condition was not known but his injuries were serious enough for Cooper, originally taken to Franciscan St. Anthony Health by ambulance, to be taken by helicopter to another undisclosed hospital, police said.

Cooper was hit at 10th and Huron streets on the city's northwest side.

Witnesses told investigators he was walking along the edge of one of the rails and appeared to be talking on a cellphone, with the train approaching from behind him.

The train's warning lights were on and the horn was sounding before it hit Cooper.

Cooper was thrown an unknown distance away from the side of the tracks and onto the ground, according to police.

Police said the exact speed of the train at the time of impact was not known, but is under investigation.

On April 3, David Martinez attempted to beat an Amtrak train across the tracks in LaPorte on foot when he was struck at the Madison Street crossing.

Police searched for two hours, but did not locate a victim along the tracks.

Martinez, though, was found the next day at Best Western after he complained to others at the hotel about his "insides hurting" from being hit by a train, police said.

Police said Martinez was taken to the hospital for a CAT scan to determine if he had any injuries.

Martinez, who was intoxicated, told police he didn't seek medical treatment right away because he tried drinking the pain the away.

In August 2013, Daryl See, 22, was hit by an Amtrak train while on foot and survived with fractures to his pelvis and other injuries.

He was walking along the tracks just east of Michigan City along U.S. 12 when he was hit from behind not far from Shady Oak Trailer Park where he lived.

See told officers he was listening to music with earphones on when struck, police said.