Man Hurt Critically When Hit by Train : Accident: The victim, mentally retarded, was on foot and apparently trying to outrace the engine so as to cross the track in front of it.

A mentally retarded La Habra man was in critical condition Sunday after he was hit by a freight train as he apparently tried to run across the tracks, police said.

James Naranjo, 34, was flown by helicopter to UCI Medical Center in Orange after the 4:47 p.m. accident, which occurred at Euclid Street between La Habra Boulevard and Lambert Road, police said.

“He was seen running from a bush near the tracks,” Police Sgt. Perry Miller said. “Witnesses saw him running alongside of the train.”

After a few seconds, Naranjo apparently tried to cut in front of the train and cross the tracks to the other side, Miller said.

“The engineer saw him running next to the train then heard a thud,” Miller said.

The Southern Pacific train, made up of two locomotives and six cars, was traveling south about 16 m.p.h. at the time of the incident, a railroad official said.

After hearing the thud, Miller said, the engineer immediately applied the brakes.

Naranjo had been struck by the train and was knocked from the tracks, Miller said. His legs and head were badly injured, said Miller, who added that doctors did not expect Naranjo to survive.

Miller said that Naranjo, who was well known to police, would occasionally stray from his family’s home and have to be taken back to his residence by officers. He said Naranjo never caused any major problems, but did have some “minor” encounters with authorities.

“Most of the time he stays in the home with his family,” Miller said.

Naranjo’s family “was very upset” by the news of his accident, Miller said. They could not be reached for comment.

Miller said investigators had no idea why Naranjo appeared to be hiding in the bush or racing the train.