A routine crossing check that was anything but routine for BNSF's Rodriguez � and the man he saved
Salvador Rodriguez paid attention to the details — moreso than most of us would have in today's mind-your-own-business society — and saved a man's life as a result.
After a recent routine grade crossing equipment check in Hinsdale, Ill., the BNSF Railway Co. signal maintainer drove past a man standing on tracks and facing a Metra train that was boarding about 2,000 feet away.
"I didn't think it was anything out of the ordinary," said Rodriguez, in a chilling account posted on the "BNSF News" Web site. "We see people stop on the tracks and look at the trains and then continue on their way."
But something about the way the man stood — with arms extended — prompted Rodriguez to turn his truck around, roll down his window and shout at the man to get off the tracks. The man turned and looked at Rodriguez, but remained on the tracks with his arms pointed out. Rodriguez immediately parked his truck and began to run toward the man yelling, "Get off the tracks!"
Slowly walking toward Rodriguez, the man said: "I'm looking at this train and I'm thinking that I'm going to throw myself at it." And he began to cry.
Rodriguez led the man off the tracks and called the local police department. He stayed until an ambulance and police arrived. While they waited, the man told Rodriguez he was having trouble at work and home, and didn't see a way out.
"When I was talking to the man, I couldn't stop thinking about the after-effect of what could happen," said Rodriguez. "How it would affect the engineer that hit him, the authorities and employees that would have to clean the accident, the passengers aboard the train — these things affect people and their families. It's a hard thing to deal with."
A 12-year railroading veteran, Rodriguez believes he's even more observant now than he was before the close call.
I'd like to think I would have interpreted the man's actions and turned my car around in Hinsdale. Many people would say the same thing.
But most of us probably are a lot less observant than Rodriguez was, and he was pretty darn attentive — not to mention selfless — when it mattered.
After a recent routine grade crossing equipment check in Hinsdale, Ill., the BNSF Railway Co. signal maintainer drove past a man standing on tracks and facing a Metra train that was boarding about 2,000 feet away.
"I didn't think it was anything out of the ordinary," said Rodriguez, in a chilling account posted on the "BNSF News" Web site. "We see people stop on the tracks and look at the trains and then continue on their way."
But something about the way the man stood — with arms extended — prompted Rodriguez to turn his truck around, roll down his window and shout at the man to get off the tracks. The man turned and looked at Rodriguez, but remained on the tracks with his arms pointed out. Rodriguez immediately parked his truck and began to run toward the man yelling, "Get off the tracks!"
Slowly walking toward Rodriguez, the man said: "I'm looking at this train and I'm thinking that I'm going to throw myself at it." And he began to cry.
Rodriguez led the man off the tracks and called the local police department. He stayed until an ambulance and police arrived. While they waited, the man told Rodriguez he was having trouble at work and home, and didn't see a way out.
"When I was talking to the man, I couldn't stop thinking about the after-effect of what could happen," said Rodriguez. "How it would affect the engineer that hit him, the authorities and employees that would have to clean the accident, the passengers aboard the train — these things affect people and their families. It's a hard thing to deal with."
A 12-year railroading veteran, Rodriguez believes he's even more observant now than he was before the close call.
I'd like to think I would have interpreted the man's actions and turned my car around in Hinsdale. Many people would say the same thing.
But most of us probably are a lot less observant than Rodriguez was, and he was pretty darn attentive — not to mention selfless — when it mattered.
Posted by: 
Jeff Stagl | Date posted: 10/22/2007
Comments
Posted by Irvine Milheim on 10/25/2007 4:06:13 PM
Congratulations to another fine railroader for being watchful and thoughtful.
Posted by Brian Miller on 11/1/2007 1:58:38 PM
Congratulations to Mr. Rodriguez for a job very well done. I came across a similar situation 6 years ago, also with a positive outcome, but I think about that man I found sitting on the tracks and drunk all the time. Brian Wheaton, Illinois
