Firefighters recently stepped into a dangerous situation to save a man’s life in Michigan. This time though, the danger was due to an oncoming freight train rather than a conflagration. A video camera captured the entire incident.
Stopping a vehicle on train tracks is always a bad idea. Despite that, even trained professionals do exactly that sometimes. In this particular incident, the Jeep and driver involved had just been in a two-car accident. In fact, the Jeep was laying on its side when firefighters arrived on the scene.
The Jeep collided with a Chevrolet Cruze and ended up coming to rest on the tracks at the intersection of Shaver Road and West Centre Ave in Portage. The man inside complained of mobility-limiting severe back pain and was unable to exit the vehicle on his own. According to MLive, crews were still in the process of assessing both his condition and the accident itself when the train crossing signal lights began flashing.
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That exact moment can be seen in the video and it’s clear that the firefighters were quick to change their plan. Less than ten seconds after the signal lights come on the crew rushes to pull the man free of the Jeep. About 20 seconds later, the freight train demolishes the Jeep.
During that short time span, we can see the firefighters clearing the area as best they can. By the time the train reaches the Jeep, there are no remaining individuals in view of the camera. Clearly, quick actions saved at least one life in this case.
According to authorities, the Chevrolet Cruze driver was uninjured and the Jeep driver was transported to the hospital. The accident is still under investigation. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Portage Department of Public Safety at 269-329-4567.