Questions linger after Amtrak passenger found severely injured near tracks
RENO, Nev. — The family of a 22-year-old train passenger found severely injured next to railroad tracks in Truckee, California, suspects he may have been the victim of a hate crime, but Amtrak said Saturday that investigators have found no evidence of foul play. Aaron Salazar's family believes the Portland State University student, who is gay, was attacked and didn't jump from the westbound train, the Reno Gazette Journal reported.
Cousin Sonia Trujillo said basic questions, such as when the company realized he was missing and who spotted him injured trackside, have gone unanswered.
"It's been 10 days, we need answers," Trujillo said.
Salazar remains hospitalized in Reno after being found unconscious May 15 while traveling from Denver to Portland, Oregon.
His cousin Austin Sailas told CBS affiliate KOIN they don't believe Salzar jumped from the train, calling him "happy." He said Salazar has no history of being depressed and had made plans to live with his dad in Colorado for the summer.
Sailas told the station the family believes Salazar was the victim of a hate crime because he suffered "focused" injuries to his groin area including burns and a broken pelvis. But in a statement released to KOIN, Amtrak police said their investigation shows "nothing to suggest criminal intent."
KOIN reports Salazar hasn't been fully conscious since suffering the injuries and hasn't been able to speak to them. They are hopeful he will recover.
Members of Oregon's congressional delegation on Friday wrote to Amtrak President Richard Anderson, citing the family's belief that Salazar was a victim of a hate crime and calling for an investigation using all available resources.
"We expect a full report on the investigation of this crime, to our federal delegation and to Aaron's family," said the letter signed by Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Reps. Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, Kurt Schrader and Suzanne Bonamici.
Amtrak said in a statement that it was "deeply saddened by the significant injuries to one of our customers" and that the Amtrak Police Department's investigation included reaching out to more than 300 customers, crew and friends.
"The individuals who noted interactions with Mr. Salazar shared that he had expressed to them a number of life concerns and challenges. We are unable to comment on Mr. Salazar's medical condition, but note that a fall from a moving train would cause significant injury," the statement said. "There is no evidence of a physical altercation occurring while Mr. Salazar was travelling on Amtrak."
Trujillo said Salazar texted his grandmother a half-hour before the train arrived in Truckee and said he'd made a friend on the train and that they planned to explore Sacramento, California, together.
The Truckee Police Department said officers responded to a call about an injured man lying feet from the tracks. They found Salazar, alive but critically injured.
The police statement indicated that Salazar's location on the east end of town indicated that he never made it to the Truckee Amtrak station.
Denver, Reno and Truckee are served by Amtrak's California Zephyr route between Chicago and Emeryville, California.