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Man Hurt After Falling Between 'L' Train Cars Downtown

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A man was hurt Monday evening when he stumbled and fell between two train cars on the Loop 'L.'

The man apparently walked up to the train between cars, then stumbled and fell near the Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren Loop 'L' stop, according to Chicago Transit Authority spokeswoman Catherine Hosinski.

Authorities do not believe the man made contact with the electrically-charged third rail.

Police said the man, who was in his 60s, appeared to be intoxicated. A witness to the accident was unsure whether he jumped or fell between the cars of the stopped train.

A quick-thinking passenger blocked the door from closing and alerted CTA workers, police said, and power was quickly cut before the train could start moving.

Paramedics took the man to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious-to-critical condition about 7:15 p.m. Monday, Fire Media Affairs spokesman Kevin MacGregor said. The man was conscious and breathing, Hosinski said.

According to police, the man suffered an abrasion to his head, but his injuries were not life-threatening, police said.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.

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