EFFERSON, Ore. -- A 13-year-old boy playing "chicken" on the railroad tracks in Jefferson with friends is in serious condition with fractures and internal injuries after he was struck by a train.

Police said the friends were daring each other to wait to the last moment to jump out of the way of a mile-long freight train last night.

Kyle Clements waited too long.

He 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.

He was life-flighted to Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.