July 21, 2004 06:46 PM EDT

APPLETON, Wis. - A man in a wheelchair who makes obscene gestures to the crews of passing trains was injured when he got a little too close to one of them, police said.

A gas tank on a train engine clipped the wheelchair of Leland Laird, 54, Tuesday evening, causing him to fall out of the damaged chair and injure his arm, police said.

Laird told officers he has used a wheelchair since 1989 when a car he was driving was struck by a train near Fremont.

But that's not the reason he periodically "flips off" the trains, Lt. Pat Matuszewski said.

He told police he puts himself where train crews can see him - engineers and conductors consider him a regular - and makes obscene gestures because he is frustrated by their loud horns.

"He lives right near the intersection. That's his way of addressing the loud horns blowing," Matuszewski said.

Laird was treated at Appleton Medical Center for an abrasion to his left arm, ticketed as a pedestrian for violating traffic signals, and told to find less dangerous ways to express himself.

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Information from: The Post-Crescent, http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent

Submitted on 07/21/2004

Submitted by: Lewis Christmas
Reference: The Post-Crescent

Copyright © 2004 DarwinAwards.com

Charles said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
I'm going to give this one an HM because it is stupid to think that the train crews can do anything about it. It is a law that trains have to sound their horns at level crossings...

Jack said:
Maybe Toss: Too Common
It's a humorous story but while I agree with Charles, accidents involving trains and pedestrians and/or motorists are a bit too common.

Bill said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
You would think he would have learned his lesson, having been in a car totaled by a train.

Tracy said:
Maybe Toss: No Self-Selection
Ok, usually it's someone trying to cross in front of the train, but this counts as just another accident

Daniel said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
"Maybe if I get just a little closer, they'll see me & do something about it" Perhaps the feds will make the railroad put in special markings for how close a wheelchair can sit.

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