A 29-year-old South Jersey man is in critical condition after being struck by a freight train this morning in Camden County, police said.
John Corson, Jr., of Deptford Township, was taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Police Capt. Steven Saymon found Corson on the tracks in Brooklawn between the Route 130 underpass in Brooklawn and River Drive.
Saymon said Corson, who was lying on the tracks when the train hit him, appeared to have lost both legs.
Saymon was standing outside the Brooklawn police station when he heard a horn "blasting nonstop for close to 30 seconds," shortly before 11 a.m.
The department hadn't been notified by radio at that point, but Saymon knew from experience that the train horn meant someone was on the tracks. So the 25-year veteran rushed to the rails about a half-mile away where he found Corson screaming in pain.
"He was conscious," Saymon said. "I just tried to comfort him. I climbed under the train and just held him," Saymon said.
It was unclear why Corson had been on the tracks.
Contact staff writer Darran Simon at 856-779-3829 or dsimon@phillynews.com or @darransimon on Twitter.
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