Lake Tahoe had two skiers missing from Sugar Bowl ski resort over the weekend. In response to the skiers being missing, Search & Rescue asked the Union Pacific railway to slow down to aid in the search for the missing persons.
“Whenever we have a search, it’s standard procedure to call Union Pacific. We ask them to slow down, because we have guys and equipment criss-crossing the tracks. We don’t want our guys to get hit, and if the train slows down, it gives us an extra pair of eyes.” – Placer County Sheriff’s Office Lt. John Weaver
Train operators slowed down their trains to assist in avoiding collisions with search and rescue personnel as well as to aid in searching for the missing persons. Engineer Phillip Tufi was riding on the nose of the train as it traveled thru Norden Tunnel 41 looking for the missing skiers when he saw a man in the train tunnel.
The man was discovered on the ground, in the fetal position, and covered in soot.
“He was black like he had been dipped in tar. When we picked him up, we weren’t sure what we were dealing with.” – Engineer Phillip Tufi
This man was not one of the missing skiers. The missing skiers turned up uninjured at Sugar Bowl ski resort Monday morning.
The train tunnel man is reported to have shown signs of being hit by a train, yet was able to speak and climb onto the train under his own power. Two train operators had to carry him a quarter mile to the train. He must have been weak. We hope his recovery is going well.
Not much more is known about this train tunnel man at this time.
More info here: Tahoe Bonanza