College student's leg amputated and skull crushed in train accident

A Boston College student, 20, who lost her footing and was dragged underneath a moving train suffered multiple injuries in what her father has called a ‘preventable’ accident.

Ava Harlow is undergoing treatment at Brigham and Women’s Hospital after she suffered a fractured skull, crushed pelvis, broken arms, cuts to her face, and broke one leg and lost part of her other leg.

The Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) police said at about 11.30pm on January 27, evDEn eVE NakLiYAT Harlow got off a Green Line train at the Boston University Central Station with a group of friends just moments before tragedy struck, according to the .

While knocking on the window to signal friends Harlow took a step in the direction in which the train was moving, slipped, and fell under the train.

Boston Fire Department, alongside Emergency medical services, Boston police and evdeN EVE NaKLiYAt MBTA responded working together to rescue the Bridgewater State University student.

The 20-year-old’s father, Andrew Harlow, told that his daughter had to be resuscitated twice before she was taken to ICU.

‘Ava was intubated on about seven different medications at the intensive care unit and it was still dicey as to whether she could live,’ Harlow said to the outlet.

‘I want to know who the guy was who tied her tourniquet.I want to know who it was that resuscitated her the first time, then the second time. I’m just grateful to the guys.’

While thankful his daughter survived, Andrew told Boston Herald that the tragedy could have been prevented and that he’d been ‘numb’ when he received the call.

‘[The driver] could have [seen] that she was banging on the friggin’ [sic] side of the car and not pulled away,’ he told the outlet.

‘They have mirrors.They have horns. They’re supposed to toot the horn before they take off.’

Andrew said the family had ‘retained a lawyer’ but wasn’t ‘at liberty’ to comment on whether the operator was at fault and whether he planned to take action against the MBTA.

‘We are retaining a lawyer.And he’s good,’ he said.

The MBTA said the accident ‘does not appear to be the result of any mechanical or MBTA employee failure,’ the reported.

Harlow is expected to need multiple surgeries and a prosthetic leg following the horrific accident.

Several fundraising initiatives have been set up for the young student who has been described as ‘hardworking, smart and funny.’

In the description of , set up by a group that calls themselves Harlow’s ‘aunties,’ $42,480 have been so far raised.

They wrote that Harlow was a ‘basketball and field hockey star’ and a ‘bright and promising college sophomore’ who had hoped to pursue a career in Intelligence. 

‘She’s hardworking, smart, funny, and has a big heart,’ the description added.

‘On Friday, January 27, Ava was involved in a horrific accident where she was struck by a train. Here is more about EvDeN EVe nAkLiyaT look at our site. Thankfully she survived, but she has many very serious injuries and will require a prosthesis.

‘We are hopeful for her recovery, but she will need several more surgeries and has a long, difficult road ahead of her.’

Another set up by friends of Harlow, which has raised $43,006 so far, said: ‘Ava always knows how to make everyone laugh and evDen EVE Nakliyat is a great friend that has anyone’s back.’

Meanwhile, Boston’s, , which ‘helps families that had been touched by tragedy’ have so far raised $10,337.

DailyMail.com has reached out to family and friends and the MTBA for comment.