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I DON'T GET IT. I WAS JUST DOING MY JOB & NOW I'M A "HERO". Injured driver was helped from vehicle just moments before train crushed car
Injured driver was helped from vehicle just moments before train crushed car
By J.D. Prose, Times Staff
Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 9:49 PM EDT
BEAVER FALLS — A West Mayfield man whose car landed upside down on railroad tracks in Beaver Falls was helped from the wreckage by an off-duty city firefighter Tuesday, just moments before a train destroyed the vehicle.
Beaver Falls Fire Chief Mark Stowe said the unidentified driver told authorities that he fell asleep around 7 p.m. while heading west in the 800 block of 37th Street in Beaver Falls.
The man’s car crossed the center line, struck a pickup leaving a Marathon Oil gas station, went down an embankment and rolled onto its roof on the railroad tracks, Stowe said.
City firefighter Chris Callahan happened to be at the gas station and rushed to assist the driver, who was already crawling from his car. A few minutes later, Stowe said, a Norfolk Southern train came along and smashed into the car, pushing it at least 1,000 feet.
“There wasn’t a whole lot left of the vehicle,” Stowe said.
Stowe said the driver was conscious at the scene, but he was later flown to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh for head injuries.
The car’s wreckage was pulled from beneath the train shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday.
Beaver Falls police could not be reached late Tuesday for additional information.
Man who escaped car-train crash recovering
By Cory Nealon, Times Staff
Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 9:49 PM EDT
BEAVER FALLS — The driver in Tuesday’s near catastrophic accident involving an overturned car and passing train is expected to recover, his family said Wednesday.
Joe Ursida, 61, of West Mayfield fell asleep while driving west on 37th Street in Beaver Falls around 7 p.m. His car hit a pickup before plummeting down an embankment and landing on its roof on railroad tracks. City police have not released information about the driver of the pickup.
Ursida was able to free himself from the car. He was then aided by an off-duty city firefighter, Chris Callahan, moments before a train pummeled his vehicle about 1,000 feet down the tracks.
Ursida, who had numerous head and upper body injuries, was flown to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, where he was listed in good condition Wednesday.
Family members said Ursida, New Brighton Area School District’s athletic director, was lucky his injuries weren’t more serious.
“There’s no doubt in my mind, there was an angel on his shoulders,” said Linda Ursida, his daughter-in-law.
By J.D. Prose, Times Staff
Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 9:49 PM EDT
BEAVER FALLS — A West Mayfield man whose car landed upside down on railroad tracks in Beaver Falls was helped from the wreckage by an off-duty city firefighter Tuesday, just moments before a train destroyed the vehicle.
Beaver Falls Fire Chief Mark Stowe said the unidentified driver told authorities that he fell asleep around 7 p.m. while heading west in the 800 block of 37th Street in Beaver Falls.
The man’s car crossed the center line, struck a pickup leaving a Marathon Oil gas station, went down an embankment and rolled onto its roof on the railroad tracks, Stowe said.
City firefighter Chris Callahan happened to be at the gas station and rushed to assist the driver, who was already crawling from his car. A few minutes later, Stowe said, a Norfolk Southern train came along and smashed into the car, pushing it at least 1,000 feet.
“There wasn’t a whole lot left of the vehicle,” Stowe said.
Stowe said the driver was conscious at the scene, but he was later flown to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh for head injuries.
The car’s wreckage was pulled from beneath the train shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday.
Beaver Falls police could not be reached late Tuesday for additional information.
Man who escaped car-train crash recovering
By Cory Nealon, Times Staff
Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 9:49 PM EDT
BEAVER FALLS — The driver in Tuesday’s near catastrophic accident involving an overturned car and passing train is expected to recover, his family said Wednesday.
Joe Ursida, 61, of West Mayfield fell asleep while driving west on 37th Street in Beaver Falls around 7 p.m. His car hit a pickup before plummeting down an embankment and landing on its roof on railroad tracks. City police have not released information about the driver of the pickup.
Ursida was able to free himself from the car. He was then aided by an off-duty city firefighter, Chris Callahan, moments before a train pummeled his vehicle about 1,000 feet down the tracks.
Ursida, who had numerous head and upper body injuries, was flown to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, where he was listed in good condition Wednesday.
Family members said Ursida, New Brighton Area School District’s athletic director, was lucky his injuries weren’t more serious.
“There’s no doubt in my mind, there was an angel on his shoulders,” said Linda Ursida, his daughter-in-law.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
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Good save and well done!
On the flip side, I've really struggled wit hthe whole "hero" term for emergency services.
It just doesn't sit well with me.
How does it make you feel Chirs- honestly? (Put aside the emotion invokved in such an incident)
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Permalink Reply by Erin T. on
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I too have a hard time with being referred to as a hero. I don't wish to be exalted I just believe that God places this calling on us from the womb. That was one close call though hats (or shall I say helmets) off to you.
Erin
Erin
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Permalink Reply by Karen on
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Even though you believe you were "just doing your job", I look at it this way, how many other folks would have jumped in and did what you did? Probably a very small percentage of the general public. I think of people like you all the time, the ones who risk their own personal safety and sometimes their life to help others, whether it's considered part of the job or not, I thank God for people like you.
And, since you were "off duty" at the time, I would think a nomination for a Carnegie Medal would be more than appropriate.
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Betz on
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I guess I agree the "hero" tag is getting used up, but I still believe that we need to recognize uncommon acts of valor. You did a great thing that others may not have done, and deserve credit for that. I look at it this way: it would be more of a travesty if good people doing great things DID NOT get any credit, what a shame that would be.
Accept the congratulations with a slight dose of humility; Job well done.
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Permalink Reply by Marc Hansen on
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Chris, substitute "someone who knows how to do his job at the right time" for hero it makes the story much easier to read and way more interesting. The media has to put the word hero in there somewhere so people watch or read the story because no one would if it was just about someone doing the job they were trained for at the time that they were supposed to do it. All in all goood job (even if i had to see your dad on tv)
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Permalink Reply by Tony P on
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Rushing to a wrecked car isn't quite your job, but I know what you mean. Well done mate, bloody good save.
And isn't the "H" word just a bit overused? Devalued even? After all, someone else, just doing his/her job, being paid huge amounts of money, can be a "sports hero". There's a person on a forum I visit that has the following as his signature. "I'm a firefighter, that doesn't mean I'm a hero". I can relate to that one.
Still, the media is the media. All you can do is accept the congratulations for a job well done. With humility. A little bit of pride in self for reacting the best way possible is allowed :)
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