A solider who saw the Amtrak train derail and plunge from the overpass, rushed to help the injured passengers and even saved a grandmother who was dangling outside one of the cars.
Army 2nd Lt. Robert McCoy, a soldier from the nearby Joint Base Lewis-McChord, was driving his truck down the I-5 when he heard a loud bang saw the train cars barreling down towards him.
‘It hit three vehicles that were in front of me,’ he told CNN affiliate KCPQ, adding that he’s slammed his breaks on in time.
Without any concern for his own safety, the lieutenant jumped out of his truck, grabbed a tourniquet and a CPR mask, and headed toward the wreck.
Army 2nd Lt. Robert McCoy, a soldier from the nearby Joint Base Lewis-McChord, was driving his truck down the I-5 when he heard a loud bang saw the train cars barreling down towards him
McCoy snapped this picture while he was inside the train car helping passengers escape
‘There were people yelling. There were people looking for each other, loved ones,’ he said.
‘I saw many people that were just paralyzed with fear and I don’t blame them at all. I mean, it was kind of a hard situation to watch unfold,’ he told QFox 13.
McCoy, who serves in the Army’s medical field, said he saw many passengers who had been thrown clear of the train, lying injured on the pavement, as the train cars dangled from the overpass above them.
Fearing the train could fall on them at any minute, he carried many of them out from the road, to safety, before turning his attention to those still inside the Amtrak train.
A damaged train car sits on a flatbed trailer at left as work continues to remove other cars at the scene of an Amtrak train crash onto Interstate 5 a day earlier Tuesday
A few motorists were injured when none of the cars came falling down onto the road, but none were killed
The first victims of the crash have since been identified as local transit employee Zack Willhoite (left in an undated photo) and his friend Jim Hamre (right)
As he approached he saw a grandmother, who was hanging from the car as her panicked family tried to pull her in.
‘She was kind at the end here, dangling out, but another downed rail car was right here. Her daughter kind of pulled her out backwards and I just reached under her and picked her up and put her down on some form of safe structure.’
He, and another volunteer risked their lives as they clambered into the teetering rail car to help the dozens of passengers still trapped inside.
‘I couldn’t afford to be scared, I couldn’t afford to be shocked. I had to do what I am called to do and focus and channel that and help these people around me get to safety as best as possible.’
McCoy wasn’t alone in his bravery.
McCoy jumped out of his truck, grabbed a tourniquet and a CPR mask, and headed toward the wreck after seeing the crash
He was joined by Lt. Col. Christopher Sloan (left), and Madigan CRNA Maj. Michael Livingston (right) who were with him driving to work when crash happened
‘I just knew people needed help,’ said Maj. Michael Livingston, at a press conference today
The trio have been praised as ‘heroes’ by the Madigan Army Medical Center
He was joined by Madigan Army Medical Center’s deputy commander of administration Lt. Col. Christopher Sloan, and Madigan CRNA Maj. Michael Livingston who were with him driving to work when crash happened.
‘There was compassion, there was a clear understanding that people were in need of help. I said to myself immediately, this is a mass casualty scenario’ – Lt. Col. Christopher Sloan said at a press conference today.
‘I just knew people needed help. I had no idea it was an inaugural run of the train or anything, It was – what can I do to help as fast as possible and keep these people safe’ added Maj. Michael Livingston.
A Madigan Army Medical Center spokesperson said they were ‘proud of these heroes and honored to have them as a part of#TeamMadigan and the Joint Base Lewis-McChord community. #Hooah.’