Traveler describes gruesome accident

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A man who survived a gruesome rail car accident in Mobile opened up to FOX10 about the horror.

Steve McCoy, known as Reggie, said he watched as his friends were crushed to death by heavy steel beams in a freak accident at CSX Rail yard.

The 26-year-old said he had been ‘train hopping’ with three friends for about a year. The group, he said, hitch-hiked to Mobile from New Orleans to visit a friend.

“We play music, and we're like a family and you know-- because we grew up with hardly any family,” said McCoy.

According to McCoy, the group of friends planned to hop a train to Pensacola.

McCoy said they snuck into a rail car, known as a Gondola. He said the four were huddled in the car between hundreds of steel beams that were stacked inside.

By 3a.m. Tuesday morning, McCoy said the train started moving. The rail car they were in became loose and started quickly rolling backwards as train conductors got to work.  

“The person to my right, he goes, ‘Do you know if this is going to shift?’ And that was the last words he said. Everything comes right at us; crashes me in. It took him into his chest.”

A female and second male, who according to McCoy was ‘train-hopping’ for the first time, were also killed when the steel beams shifted.  

“I said, ‘Are you alive, buddy? Are you alive, my friend?’ And he wasn't alive. So I’m screaming, ‘Help! Help!’ No one wanted to help. No one could help,” he said.

McCoy described a gruesome scene inside the mangled mess of steel.

He said he managed to climb out of the rail car with a shattered leg and seek help.

McCoy was taken to USA Medical center where he remained Wednesday, March 6.  

He said it was a miracle he made it out alive.

“I don't know how I am alive; but whatever it is, I owe my life to becoming a better person and make the world better. I got a second chance,” he said.

McCoy, who said he is homeless, said he does not know what to do next.

He is looking to get his musical instruments from MPD once he is released from the hospital.

CSX maintains that the group was trespassing. The company, police said, plan to file charges.