Video shows autistic boy, 3, wandering alone on train tracks before being rescued by alert rail staff
SLEEPY HOLLOW, NEW YORK: A non-verbal three-year-old autistic child was saved recently after he was found on the northbound tracks near Tarrytown on April 6 at around 3.15 pm. As per reports, the unnamed toddler was first spotted by Locomotive Engineer William Kennedy while he was operating a train moving south along adjacent Metro-North tracks.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said, “Kennedy sent out an emergency radio communication to all nearby train crews. Locomotive Engineer Shawn Loughran and an engineer trainee who were aboard northbound Train 737 approaching the scene proceeded at slow speed until the child was spotted on a track near — and then on top of — an electrified third rail.”
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'This is unbelievable'
As soon as the train stopped, Assistant Conductor Marcus Higgins reportedly ran toward the child and saved him before bringing him onboard the train. “This is unbelievable, I thought that was a bag,” one of the men operating the train said, as per the Daily Mail, while another added, “No I could tell by the way he was moving. I just couldn't tell how big the person was.”
The little boy was then taken to Tarrytown Station, where he got united with his mother and sister. At the time, the mother of the three-year-old reportedly told the authorities that her son has autism and before going missing, he was playing in a park. The woman also revealed that the boy cannot speak.
'We salute their efforts and compassion'
Following the incident, Kennedy, Higgins, Chong, Fraina, and Loughran were honored with commendations by the Metro-North President and Long Island Rail Road Interim President Catherine Rinaldi, who said, “These fine team members embodied the qualities we want our employees to exhibit while on duty, alert, responsive, knowledgeable and helpful.”
She added, “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.”
Kennedy also shared his experience of the April 6 episode as he noted, “Heading south towards Tarrytown when I noticed something on the tracks, and when I realized it was a child I immediately called in an emergency. Everybody’s quick thinking and the perfect timing allowed us to get this child off the tracks and back to his family.”
Higgins said, “In the heat of the moment when you see a child in this situation, your first instinct is to make sure they’re safe. I’m glad our crew was there and able to help.” And, Signal Maintainer Christopher Fraina added, “It’s a great feeling knowing that we were able to help reunite this family. 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.”
