He's doubting that a train really drove over a teenager who was passed out between the rails in downtown Des Moines earlier this week.
The teen came away with only minor injuries.
The chief operating officer of the Iowa Interstate Railroad tells the Des Moines Register that there's only about 10 inches of clearance between a locomotive and railroad ties. And that, he says, is hardly enough space for someone to lie under the train.
But 17-year-old Christian Latshaw told police that's what happened. He says he was drunk and passed out, and that he woke up under the train. Train engineers had slammed on the brakes when they spotted someone on the tracks.
The railroad official says it's more likely that the teen stood up and was knocked clear of the train.
