Knott’s Berry Farm Worker Injured by Railroad Ride

A Knott’s Berry Farm employee was seriously injured Saturday evening when he was struck by the engine of the popular Calico railroad ride, authorities said.

The employee, whose name was not released, had injuries to both legs, including a broken bone, and was in stable condition Saturday after being airlifted to UC Irvine Medical Center, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

The employee’s legs were trapped beneath a section at the front of the train called the “cow catcher.” Orange County firefighters used a “jaws of life” rescue device to lift the train off the man’s legs, said Dennis Shell, a department spokesman.

“He was obviously in pain and had suffered trauma to the lower part of his legs, but he was conversing with the paramedics, answering their questions,” Shell said.

All of the passengers on the train at the time were safely evacuated, but the ride was closed pending an investigation, park spokeswoman Susan Tierney told KTLA Channel 5. The park remained open until its scheduled 10 p.m. closing, she said.

Representatives of Cal/OSHA were expected to arrive at the park Saturday night, said Buena Park police Lt. Terry Branum.

In 1996, a Knott’s employee was killed when he was crushed between two cars on the Calico ride.