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Woman ejected from train after it derails in Aurora during early morning snowstorm

The woman ejected from the train had to be rushed to an area hospital. According to Aurora PD, others on the train were also injured and transported.

AURORA, Colo. — A woman was ejected from a Regional Transportation District train after it derailed in Aurora early Monday morning during a snowstorm, according to the Aurora Police Department.

Several others on the R Line train that derailed at South Sable Boulevard and East Exposition Avenue had to be taken to the hospital for minor injuries.

When the train derailed, the woman was thrust into the train car’s door, and because of the amount of force, she was ejected, according to Aurora Police Lt. Jad Lanigan.

Public Information Officer Matthew Longshore said the woman flung from the train suffered a serious injury but her condition is stable at an area hospital. Longshore could not specify what type of injury it was, but several witnesses told 9NEWS the woman's foot was injured. 

Davion Finley told 9NEWS he was on the R Line at the time of the incident and felt it was going too fast to make its upcoming turn. That's when the train went off the tracks.

"The back of the train had snapped off the wire and was swinging like crazy," Finley said. "At that point of time, the first time it swung, that's when it knocked that lady off of the train."

Tina Jaquez, RTD's public relations manager, said the agency is cooperating with Aurora Police's investigation and can't say much else until they learn more.

"We need to learn what happened so that we can avoid something like that happening again," Jaquez said. 

Finley said his knee and ribs are bruised – and he's not looking forward to riding this line again.

"The floor had split, started smoking so we hurried and rushed off the train," Finley said. 

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APD officers first got on scene around 7:15 a.m. to find the train derailed and the woman on the ground outside it. According to a press release from the city, officers provided first aid until EMS could intervene.

Longshore said traffic officers are working with RTD to figure out exactly what happened. According to the City of Aurora, speed and weather are being looked at as factors in the crash.

Sable and Exposition were closed until about 2 p.m. - nearly five hours after the wreck. According to Longshore, RTD is working to put the train back onto the tracks and make sure the intersection is working properly.

Per Aurora city officials, the train was headed up south Sable and derailed during the turn onto Exposition.

This is not the first serious R Line accident so far this year. On Jan. 16 at nearly 7 p.m., RTD dispatch got in touch with Aurora police to report that a pedestrian was hit by the R Line at East 31st Avenue and North Peoria Street.

The pedestrian, according to police, was rushed to a local hospital and later died from his injuries. The RTD train conductor was cooperating with the investigation at the time.

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