Handicapped man separated from service dogs when MAX train departs without him

PORTLAND, Ore. — A witness tells KATU a handicapped man was dragged approximately 30 feet by a TriMet MAX train when it departed with his two service dogs on board.

The incident occurred Saturday evening at the Lents MAX station in Southeast Portland.

The man, who authorities have not identified, was riding on a motorized scooter. He was accompanied by two dogs.

TriMet stated it is conducting an internal investigation. It has reviewed the surveillance video. It says the video shows the man hopping along the train. TriMet says he was not dragged.

TriMet says the dogs' leashes got entangled around a pole.

Another passenger helped the man and boarded the train with the dogs.

TriMet says the doorway where the dogs entered was not equipped with boarding ramps.

Before the man could board the train, the doors closed.

Paris Keller says the man's yell caught her attention.

"That is when I turned and when I saw ... the doors finished closing, he jumped up and he was like, 'My dogs!'" Keller recalled. "He was just in panic mode, saying I need my dogs, I want my dogs back, I need my dogs back."

Keller says the train started to slowly move. She says the man held on to the doorway.

"His scooter was in one spot and he was all the way, probably about 30 feet away," Keller told KATU. "So, it wasn't like he got up and walked over to the spot, he obviously was pulled over there."

Keller says the man has an amputated leg.

"Because I was facing the driver, I started going like this to try to get the driver's attention," she said imitating the motion she made. "He was going really slow, so he could've just easily stopped and open the doors, but then he gradually picked up speed."

Keller says she believed the MAX operator made eye contact with her. She says a passenger riding the train also ran to alert the operator.

"I think they need to set some sort of, some sort of standard of practice where they double-check and make sure that the platform is clear," Keller said. "It was surreal. Like, did that really happen?"

In a prepared statement TriMet said in part, "It is unclear at this time if the operator was aware of the developments on the platform or the separation prior to departure."

The agency said the man and his dogs were reunited a short time later.

The man was treated on scene by paramedics, but declined a trip to the hospital. He was not seriously hurt.

Read the full statement from TriMet here:

While not all information is known at this time, preliminary information suggests that an intending rider in a mobility device, accompanied by two dogs, approach a MAX train on the platform as the train was pulling into the station. While moving down the platform the leashes of his two service dogs became wrapped around a pole. The individual subsequently dropped the leash for the animals.

The MAX train was at the station at this time allowing passengers to board/deboard. The individual was in the process of returning to his animals when the dogs became untangled. The service animals boarded the train via doors not equipped with boarding ramps with the help of another passenger. The doors closed prior to the boarding of the dogs’ owner through a different door equipped with a ramp. The individual/owner then stood from his mobility device and moved toward the departing MAX.

We are conducting an internal investigation. It is unclear at this time if the operator was aware of the developments on the platform or the separation prior to departure.

The individual in the mobility device was seen on the platform by medics for a fall sustained after the train departed. He declined their services and was reunited with the dogs shortly thereafter.