Photo: Metropolitan Transportation Authority
An eagle-eyed train conductor helped save an autistic toddler who was wandering on the train tracks near a station in Tarrytown, New York, earlier this month.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said that on April 6, Engineer William Kennedy noticed a young child was on the northbound track and sent out an emergency alert to all nearby train crews.
Locomotive Engineer Shawn Loughran and an engineer trainee were traveling on the track and heard the alert. They were moving slowly down the track, trying to locate the boy.
When they spotted him in the distance, Assistant Conductor Marcus Higgins jumped off the train, sprinted to the child, and brought him onboard the train.
The crew then continued to the Tarrytown station, where the three-year-old boy was reunited with his mother and sister.
On Tuesday (April 25), the MTA honored all of the employees involved in the rescue.
"These fine team members embodied the qualities we want our employees to exhibit while on duty, alert, responsive, knowledgeable, and helpful," Metro-North Railroad President and Interim LIRR President Catherine Rinaldi said. "With the bravery and calm comportment of superheroes, they averted a horrific outcome and saw to it that this little boy was not going to become a statistic. We salute their efforts and compassion and heartily thank them for their dedication to the people we serve."
The agency also released videos showing the rescue of the boy and the tearful reunion with his family.