TOPEKA, Kan. – First responders made the most of their training during an emergency this week.
Just before 2:30a.m. August 22, the Topeka Fire Department responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a train near the U.S. 75 Westgate Bridge, according to a media release.
Upon arrival, crews located an adult male near the railroad tracks beneath the bridge. Due to the difficult terrain and limited access to the area, the Topeka Fire Department Technical Rescue Team responded to assist crews.
Technical Rescue Team members utilized specialized rescue techniques to lift the individual from the railroad tracks to the bridge deck. The individual was then transported by American Medical Response to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident occurred just one day after Topeka Fire Department crews completed hands-on training with the University of Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute. The training, held during the week of August 17–21, 2026, was part of TFD’s ongoing annual training and provided firefighters an opportunity to practice specialized rescue skills used during technical rescue operations