TRAX victim still in critical condition on Monday

MIDVALE — Police said a Midvale man remained in critical condition Monday with massive head trauma after walking in front of a TRAX train last week at the Fort Union station at 7200 South.

Witnesses said Mitchall Wilkey, 24, was listening to an iPod while walking toward the TRAX platform from the parking lot about 5 p.m. Thursday when the northbound train hit him, sending him flying into a nearby chain-link fence.

He was transported to Intermountain Medical Center with severe head trauma from being pushed 10 feet into the fence, said Midvale Police Capt. Steve Shreeve.

"It looked very bad," he said.

Midvale police said hospital personnel reported the young man's condition had not changed since Friday.

The train was slowing down when the accident occurred, but trains pulling into a platform run at about 30 mph, said Utah Transit Authority spokesman Gerry Carpenter.

"I see it all the time," Shreeve said. "People listening to iPods while they're walking or riding a bicycle. You're blocking out one of your most important senses for warning you of danger. Wait until you get on the train."

— Lana Groves