In a remarkable incident, a train conductor in New York displayed exceptional alertness and quick thinking, even in the face of challenging circumstances. Despite the early morning hour and the presence of a distracting smartphone, the conductor remained vigilant and focused on the tracks. During his shift, he noticed a 3-year-old child dangerously close to the electrified third rail, prompting him to take immediate action. Despite the train’s speed of 70 mph, he swiftly applied the brakes and alerted all traffic near Tarrytown Station about the imminent danger.
Once the train came to a halt, surveillance footage captured the assistant conductor, Marcus Higgins, sprinting along the tracks to rescue the child. Reports suggest that the child is autistic and non-verbal, having become separated from his mother when he accidentally fell over a barrier and ended up near the train tracks.
The conductor urgently communicated the situation to others, exclaiming, “Emergency, emergency, emergency! I need you to kill rail; we have a toddler on the track.” Unfortunately, due to the child’s disability, he did not comprehend Higgins’ warnings about the electrified rail and the potential danger it posed. Consequently, Higgins’ colleague, who remained on the train, relentlessly contacted the station to cut off power to the rail.
Thanks to the prompt response of the station authorities, Higgins successfully brought the child onto the train, where he was eventually reunited with his mother and sister. This incident stands as a testament to the conductor’s unwavering dedication to passenger safety and his courageous act of rescuing a young child in a precarious situation.
