Vet injured in train accident from Mobile

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A Mobile native is among the group of injured veterans who were hit by a train in Midland, Texas November 15.

Four veterans were killed in the accident during a parade on Thursday in Midland, Texas.

Marine Staff Sergeant Johnathan Rose grew up in Mobile, and he along with his wife was injured when a train collided with a float.

RELATED: Texas parade honoring war heroes ends in tragedy

While stunned spectators watched, a train collided with a parade float carrying wounded veterans and their spouses.

Four veterans were killed, and 16 people were injured, including Marine Staff Sergeant Rose and his wife Colleen. Rose is a Mobile native.

Rose’s friend, Anne Woods Barnwell said, "Thank goodness they're both ok. They're a wonderful couple."

Woods is with the non-profit group 'Hope for the Heroes' is friends with Rose. She said Rose's wife has some broken bones, and Rose himself is very sore from the accident. But Woods expects both of them to recover.

"It’s a relief to know that the people I knew there are going to be ok, but it's just tragic. It’s very sad and tragic,” said Woods.

Woods said the Marine grew up in the Mobile area. Officials said while serving overseas, Rose was badly injured by an IED in 2010. He lost vision in his left eye, and had severe injuries across his whole body.

As Rose went through rehabilitation, he got involved with ‘Hope for the Heroes.’ Woods said after his accident, Rose learned how to rise a hand cycle, and he stays active.

“He can’t run at this point, so he utilizes a hand cycle to use athletics to continue with his physical rehabilitation, and he does very well with that. And he’s participated in a number of different events on hand cycle,” said Woods.

Earlier this year, Rose came back home He was offered a chance to play golf with some professionals at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic.

Woods said, "When he came home to the LPGA event. He was really excited to come back to where he grew up."

While he was at the LPGA tournament, Rose spoke to an audience. And when he was asked how it felt to be back at home, Rose said, “It’s going to be great, especially being back home. I haven’t been home in that long. Actually, I’m in San Antonio now. Roll Tide still. I’m not from there; I’m from here. I just rest my head there.”

Woods has been texting with Rose since the accident, but she doesn't know the full extent of his injuries.

The parade was scheduled to end at a banquet honoring the wounded veterans, and they were then going to be treated to a weekend deer hunting trip.

The events were cancelled after the crash and the accident is under investigation.

Woods said this whole incident is tragic considering some of these veterans dealt with traumatic experiences serving abroad, only to experience more horror here at home.