A couple riding a train near Shelby Thursday night were both transported to separate hospitals after sustaining injuries from jumping off a train moving through Shelby near the state Route 61 rail crossing.
The incident report from the Richland County Sheriff’s Office indicated that the female was 17-year-old Rebecca R. Adkins. Adkins indicated that she was a runaway from Huber Heights, Ohio. Children Services identified that Adkins had been in foster care through Montgomery County Childrens Services but had not been reported missing.
The male was 19-year-old Vincent Gump of Cleveland. Adkins stated that she met Gump in the Dayton area and they took a bus to Cleveland. When they ran out of money, Gump purportedly suggested they stow away on a train to Grafton where he had family.
According to Bob Weaver, owner of Weaver’s Equipment at 4809 state Route 61 South, the young woman approached he and his wife Michele on Friday morning stating that her boyfriend was halfway down the tracks and still unconscious. Weaver’s Equipment is located only a few feet from where the train crosses the road.
“Her face was black and swollen, and she had holes in her socks,” said Bob Weaver. “She looked like she was maybe 18 to 20 years old.”
The woman told Weaver that she and her boyfriend first jumped onto the CSX train in Cleveland and had plans to ride the train to Grafton, Ohio, approximately 56 miles northeast of Shelby. Thinking they were near Grafton, the two allegedly jumped off the train sometime Thursday evening and were both knocked unconscious.
Michele Weaver called 911 after the woman explained her 19-year-old boyfriend had a cut on his face and “a hole in his head.” The woman stated the boyfriend was moving, but could not speak.
“I really felt for the girl, she was scared out of her wits and worried about him,” said Michele Weaver.
According to the Sheriff’s Office report, he was joined by Shelby Fire Department officers in searching the tracks for Gump. They encountered another CSX engine on the tracks and the engineer indicated he had also been on the lookout for Gump. Gump was finally located at the bottom of a rocky slope. He had a pulse and was breathing but was unresponsive. He was transported via Shelby Life Flight to a OhioHealth Grant Medical Hospital and at last report was in surgery and in critical condition.
Adkins was taken to Shelby OhioHealth MedCentral Hospital and treated for multiple facial fractures and was listed in stable condition.
(Editor’s Note: This story was first issued prior to the official law enforcement report. It has since been updated per a report from the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.)
