Union Pacific Train Kills Man in Gilbert; Both Legs Severed -- UPDATE: Patrick Zenner, 46, was Victim

The legs of a 46-year-old man were severed after he was run over by a Union Pacific train in Gilbert early this morning. The man later died.Gilbert police got a call around 3:45 a.m. from the train company that a pedestrian had been hit near Gilbert Road and Park Avenue.A...

By Ray Stern

July 3, 2012

With 4 days left in our summer campaign,
we have a new $10,000 goal!

Phoenix New Times members have already contributed more than $7,000 - can you help us hit our new goal to provide even more coverage of current events when it’s needed most? If New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today.

Contribute Now

Progress to goal

$10,000

$7,500

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
            "component": "21251496",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "STN Player - Float - Mobile Only ",
            "component": "21327862",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "Editor Picks",
            "component": "16759093",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "17980324",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - 2x Rectangles Desktop, Tower on Mobile - Labeled",
            "component": "21934225",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25          
          
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "17980324",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
            "component": "17012245",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          }
        ]

The legs of a 46-year-old man were severed after he was run over by a Union Pacific train in Gilbert early this morning. The man later died.

Gilbert police got a call around 3:45 a.m. from the train company that a pedestrian had been hit near Gilbert Road and Park Avenue.

A responding officer found the man -- minus his legs.

Rescuers applied tourniquets to the injured man's stumps, and he was rushed to Scottsdale Osborn Hospital, where he died.

UPDATE: Later in the afternoon, police released the name of the victim: Patrick Zenner, 46. Police still don't know why he was on the tracks, but suspect alcohol was involved.

Zenner, who had been lying on the tracks, reportedly stirred when he heard the train horn, Gilbert police Sergeant Bill Balafas wrote in an e-mail. Zenner tried unsuccessfully to crawl off the tracks before the train hit him.

Ray Stern is the former news editor of Phoenix New Times. He worked as a newspaper reporter in Arizona for more than two decades. He's won numerous awards for his reporting, including the Arizona Press Club's Don Bolles Award for Investigative Journalism.

A message from News Editor Zach Buchanan: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of essential stories and to investigate issues that matter.

Support Today