Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 8, 1990 TAG: 9003081669
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PHILADELPHIA LENGTH: Short
Doctors amputated the right leg of one woman to free her from the wreckage. She died four hours later of complications from a second broken leg and severe chest injuries.
Of the 162 people taken to hospitals, five were in critical condition at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital and 67 were discharged by late afternoon.
All three of the dead were among seven passengers trapped in the wreckage, authorities said.
Surgeon Jina Joder from the Medical College of Pennsylvania said she used a paramedic's knife to cut the leg off a dead man to free another victim trapped beneath him.
The subway serves an estimated 100,000 riders per day, according to Louis Gambaccini, general manager. He said its cars are about 30 years old and there had been no indication of problems.
Transit officials said they were looking into a report that a dragging electric motor on one car may have caused the derailment.
"One was alive and I watched him die," Young said. "I tried to comfort A 13-member National Transportation Safety Board team took over the investigation, said Gambaccini. The NTSB said it would be three or four days before the investigators finish work at the scene.
by CNB