Two teenagers in the Samara region are accused of throwing a middle-aged man under an approaching train for refusing to drink to Russian paratroopers, local media reported.
The 47-year-old man, who was not identified in the report, had to have his left foot amputated as a result, according to news site ProGorodSamara.ru, which cited Dmitry Zakharov, a representative of the regional Investigative Committee's transportation department.
The incident began in a local cafe Tuesday, when two teenagers identified in the report only as 17-year-old Bogdan and 18-year-old Denis, asked the man to join them in a toast to paratroopers.
When the man declined the offer, pointing out that Paratroopers' Day — celebrated on Aug. 2 — had long passed, the suspects attacked and robbed him before dumping him on a set of nearby train tracks, Zakharov was cited as saying.
Investigators said the fast reaction of the cargo train's driver, who applied the emergency brake when he noticed the man on the tracks, likely saved the victim's life, though he suffered numerous minor injuries in addition to having his foot amputated.
Investigators have already detained the two teenage suspects, who face charges of attempted murder.
