Nathan Selden, MD, of Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland, was traveling to Seattle when he witnessed the Amtrak derailment in Tacoma, Wash. Immediately, the neurosurgeon began treating victims, according to KOIN 6 News.
Here are five things to know:
1. For two hours, Dr. Selden treated victims of the accident who had open head wounds, skull, pelvic and leg fractures as well as small cuts and neck sprains.
2. Working with other bystanders and paramedics, the neurosurgeon worked to get those injured in neck collars and braces while also providing IVs and dressing wounds.
3. Dr. Selden is the neurological surgery chair and a pediatric neurosurgeon at OHSU. He previously spent 15 years at Doernbecher-OHSU Hospital as head of pediatric neurosurgery.
4. Dr. Selden is a past president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He underwent fellowship training at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago.
5. Three people of the 77 passengers and seven crew members riding the 14-car Amtrak train died. No additional motorists died from the derailment.