Train hits, kills Gilbert father of 4

GILBERT, AZ - Family members are dealing with the shock after Gilbert police say a man was struck and killed by a train Tuesday morning.

"I just keep thinking there's no way, there's no way," said one of the victim's relatives.

The Union Pacific Railroad told police they had a train collide with the male victim around 3:45 a.m. near Gilbert Road and Park Avenue.

An officer responded to the scene and found 46-year-old Patrick Zenner alive but with both legs severed, police said.

The officer then reportedly applied tourniquets to slow the bleeding and began compressions until paramedics arrived.

The victim was then transported to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center and later died.

"I was watching it on the news and had an awful feeling, then Pat's brother called me and confirmed it," said Zenner's sister-in-law Lisa Howard.

Gilbert police Sgt. William Balafas said the train engineer had noticed something on the tracks in the distance and blew the horn to warn of the oncoming train.

The horn apparently caused a reaction from the victim, who moved, but whose legs were across the railroad tracks.

"The conductor did beep his horn over and over and tried to get his (Zenner) attention and he woke up and was trying to turn and unfortunately Pat turned the wrong way," Howard said while crying.

Family members tell ABC15 that Zenner had been drinking and decided to walk to a bar near his home.

"He was walking home you know, walking home, he didn't get behind the wheel, he wouldn't want to endanger anybody's life and he's gone," said Howard while sitting in the kitchen surrounded by family members.

Family members say Zenner left behind four children.

"He had a lot of tattoos, he was a tough guy, but he had the biggest heart in the world," said Howard with Zenner's mom standing nearby.  "He's really going to be missed."