[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

Juarez was struck by the train's third-rail shoe, a protruding part that draws electric current from a third rail to the train's onboard motors. "He is lucky that all he had was his leg amputated," an unnamed law-enforcement official said. "If he had been touching another piece of metal when he was hit by the shoe, he would have burst into flames because of all the electricity."

The shoe is a very dangerous part of this job. Not so much getting hit by one while it's attached to the train or being electricuted instantly if you were to come into contact with one.... but the most troubling fact of the matter is that the shoes break off all the time. When a 5 pound piece of steel a half inch thick flies by you at knee high and 65 mph...It makes you think about some things.