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Denver • A 17-year-old Sandy girl had her legs severed after she slipped trying to hop aboard a freight train in Colorado.

Anna Beninati was air-lifted to Denver Health Medical Center Monday afternoon after the accident, and remains in serious condition, according to a news release from the hospital.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Beninati's family thanked bystanders who cared for her immediately after the accident.

"From the first responders and transport teams, to the hospitals both in Longmont and Denver, we are thankful to everyone who came to her rescue. We are especially grateful to several bystanders who provided aid for our daughter at the scene," the family said in a statement. "Our family is focused on our daughter and her recovery and we ask that you respect our privacy during this very difficult time."

Beninati and three male friends, ranging in age from 17 to 25, traveled to Denver on Monday morning, said Cmdr. Jeff Satur, spokesman for the Longmont Police Department.

Police do not know how the four got to Denver.

Later that day, a friend gave them a ride to Longmont, about 30 miles north of Denver, and they planned to hop on the train and ride it to Fort Collins, where Beninati is a student at Colorado State University.

One man jumped on the train and a 17-year-old boy followed, but fell off. Beninati was the third to approach the train when she slipped and fell underneath it.

Charles Hamilton, 25 of Gillette, Wyo., was the last person to approach the train. Hamilton, who did not get on the train, reportedly pulled Beninati out from underneath the train and into a nearby parking area.

The train had 118 cars, two engines in the front and two engines in the back. The four apparently tried to jump onto the 33rd car.

Beninati was taken to Longmont United Hospital before being flown to Denver Health Medical Center.

Beninati remained conscious and spoke with a nurse and former EMT who helped her.

Nicole Crowley, a lab assistant at Longmont United Hospital whose car was stopped at the railroad crossing, called 911 and rushed to the girl's aid with medical supplies.

Kathy Poiry, a registered nurse at the hospital, was stopped two cars behind Crowley's car waiting for the train and followed as soon as she saw someone had been hurt.

Crowley said the teen was on her back and could not see the condition of her legs, but Beninati heard Crowley report to the 911 dispatcher that her legs were severed. The girl screamed. Crowley described the amputations, one above the knee, one below, to the 911 dispatcher.

"I remember her saying something to the effect of 'I don't want to hear anything,' " Crowley said.

Poiry applied femoral pressure to the girl's left leg as the women worked to control the bleeding. Poiry said one of the girl's friends was helpful, noting when the girl would bleed to apply pressure in the right places.

She said the girl asked again and again if she was going to die.

"I kept telling her she was not going to die," Poiry said. "We told her she was going to lose her legs. We didn't sugar coat it for her."

Poiry has been a nurse since 1984.

"I have never seen anything like this, but it didn't rattle me," she said.

She said Crowley reacted so quickly that it shocked her. Poiry said Crowley was on the phone with 911, wearing latex gloves and working out of a medical bag all while directing others how to help.

"I just don't know how she got to work so fast," Poiry said.

The Denver Post and the Longmont Times-Call contributed to this story.