A 51-year-old Wells man was airlifted to a Rochester hospital after being struck by a train early Thursday morning.

Police Chief Rick Herman says officer Jim Ratelle responded to a call that a pedestrian had been hit by an Iowa, Chicago & Eastern train at 7:25 a.m. on North Broadway near the State Farm Insurance building.

“They were switching cars and apparently he was hit when he tried to walk under a train car,” says Herman.

According to a press release from the Wells Police Department, Duane Giese was found lying between the tracks on the west side of North Broadway.

“He was dragged a short distance under the train. I’d say about 60 feet,” says the police chief.

Herman says Giese had part of his right arm amputated, but was conscious and talking with rescue workers. He was flown to St. Mary’s Hospital by a Mayo helicopter to have surgery.

Giese’s condition was not immediately known.

Also assisting at the scene were the Wells Fire and Ambulance departments, Faribault County Sheriff’s Department and Minnesota State Patrol.

Wells police and IC & Railroad officials are continuing their investigation of the accident.