DEL MAR,Calif. -- A 22-year-old man who had been drinking with some friends had his leg severed when he was hit by a passing train after slipping on the tracks Saturday, according to a San Diego county sheriff's official.

The unidentified man was with a group of young adults who were reportedly drinking before the incident and disregarded "no trespassing" signs in front of the tracks, said Mark A. Cook, a deputy with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

Lt. William Donahue said he did not know which leg was severed or how well the man, taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, was recovering.

Deputies were called to the tracks at 8th Street shortly after 6:41 p.m. Friday.

Witnesses told them a group of young adults were seen running down a slight hill toward the tracks, when the victim reportedly slipped and fell, just prior to being struck by the northbound Coaster train, Cook said.

Afterwards, the Coaster's engineer saw the man "tumbling" next to the train, and brought the train to a stop, Cook said.

The incident remains under investigation.