A recently released National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) factual report has detailed a June 2025 accident that resulted in the leg amputation of a 28-year-old RJ Corman railroad conductor in Guthrie.
According to the report, the conductor was attempting to couple a damaged railcar onto a passing track when he noticed the coupling knuckles were misaligned. While the train was still in motion, the conductor attempted to use his left foot to push the knuckle into place. His limb was caught and crushed as the cars met.
The engineer responded to the conductor’s emergency radio calls, and a nearby employee applied a life-saving tourniquet before the victim was airlifted to a Nashville hospital.
The investigation revealed the conductor had been on the job for less than a year. He admitted to investigators that he knew he should have stopped the train before adjusting the equipment, noting that “kicking” a coupler was never taught in training. RJ Corman has since held safety “stand downs” to prevent similar incidents.
The report was released by the NTSB on Thursday, January 29, 2026. The entire report can be found here.
