Drunken Pewaukee man unaware he was hit by train

Village of Pewaukee – A 31-year-old Village of Pewaukee man was so intoxicated early Sunday morning he did not know he had just been hit by a freight train even though he had suffered severe injuries, according to police.

Thomas J. Boersma apparently passed out on the Canadian Pacific railroad tracks just east of Forest Grove Drive. The conductor of the 76 car freight train said he saw a person laying on the gravel and resting his back on a rail. As the eastbound train approached the conductor said the man did not turn around. The train hit Boersma about three-tenths of a mile east of Forest Grove Drive.

The train, which had been traveling at 48 mph, stopped and the conductor and engineer looked for the man but could not find him.

Police were contacted at about 3:30 a.m. and eventually found Boersma, who was wearing camouflage.  Boersma was conscious but was not aware he had just been hit by a train, the police report said. Though Boersma suffered severe injuries to his buttocks and left arm he refused medical treatment, was agitated and combative, the report said.

Police noted Boersma walks along the railroad tracks on a regular basis and he had been found passed out on the tracks before. Police cited Boersma with trespass to railroad property.