Five quick-thinking rail workers spotted a toddler on the train tracks and sprung into action, and now they’ve been recognized for their rescue efforts.
Train operator William Kennedy sent out an emergency radio communication to nearby train crews when he noticed a young child was on the track April 6 near Tarrytown, New York, according to a Metropolitan Transportation Authority news release.
That’s when engineers aboard northbound Train 737 stopped the train.
The crew continued the route at a slow speed until they got a better look around a curve. Once they realized it was the child, Assistant Conductor Marcus Higgins quickly jumped off the train to rescue the 3-year-old boy, whose mother said he has autism. The child was near a fence on top of an electrified rail.
“In the heat of the moment when you see a child in this situation, your first instinct is to make sure they’re safe,” Higgins said in the release.
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Signal Maintainers Max Chong and Christopher Fraina were headed to the area for assistance when they came upon the toddler’s mother and sister on a nearby street corner.
After a Sleepy Hollow police officer arrived at the scene and mentioned a missing child report, the rail workers revealed they had heard radio reports of a child being found, according to the release.
The crew brought the boy back to the Tarrytown station, where he was reunited with his mother.
The five employees received commendations for their heroic actions.
“It’s a great feeling knowing that we were able to help reunite this family,” Fraina said. “In those minutes that must have felt like hours to them, I’m so glad we were in the right place at the right time.”
USA TODAY
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