Man falls through hole in train trestle

DEPEW, N.Y. (WIVB) - Safety concerns are raising a red flag about a huge hole in a train trestle, but it's already too late. A man in his 40s fell through the hole over the weekend and was badly hurt.

Steven Hawk says he's lucky to be alive after falling through the holes of the train trestle over Sanilac Street in Depew.

"I fell through a hole and hit the sidewalk underneath the bridge and after that I don't remember what happened," Hawk said.

Hawk and his girlfriend, Lisa Szymanski, were walking home from a friend's house early Saturday morning and taking a shortcut over the trestle. It's something they've done before.

Police say Hawk was intoxicated, but Szymanski says the couple was doing the right thing by not driving and walking the tracks that ultimately lead to their home.

The bridge and train tracks are easy to access and there is an absence of warning and 'no trespassing' signs, which leaves Hawk and his girlfriend as well as the surrounding community fearful that worse could come.

A playground is mere feet away from the train trestle and Szymanski says she's seen children playing on and around the tracks.

"Fix the tracks," Szymanski said. Not just because of him, there's a playground right there, or at least block it off so the kids can't cross there."

Dean Pratt has lived down the street from the bridge for 33 years and says he's constantly kicking kids off the train trestle.

"Most of the time they leave," Pratt said. "But many teenagers, they swear at me, so that's when I go in the house and call police."

And it's unclear what company owns the tracks. Although News 4 called Norfolk-Southern after seeing a sign that seemed to indicate they own the tracks, they have not returned out calls. Depew Police say the tracks are private property and the public should stay away.

Hawk is still recovering at ECMC. He was badly bruised and suffered a few broken bones. It will be weeks before he's out of the hospital. Hawk says he and his girlfriend will not be walking those tracks again.

"Be aware of your surroundings. I should have known," Hawk said.