JEFFERSON, Ore. -- A boy playing “chicken” on railroad tracks was struck by an oncoming Union Pacific train Friday night, police said.

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The 13-year-old was running on the tracks and waiting to the last minute to jump out of the way for an oncoming train, but he waited too long, police said.

Kyle Clements was hit by the mile-long freight train near Union Street in Jefferson, just after 9 Friday night, according to investigators.

“Kyle Clements attempted to "Dodge" the train, by running in front of it and then jumping off the tracks at the last second. The train hit the boy, throwing him about 30 feet off the tracks. The boy was transported by Jefferson City Ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis, then life flighted to OHSU,” said Sgt. Jeff Wheeler with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

At last report, the 13-year-old boy was listed in serious condition with multiple fractures and internal injures.