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Quick action by a California police officer saved the life of a man stuck in a wheelchair in the path of an oncoming train.
Heart-stopping body camera video released by the Lodi Police Department showed one of its officers heroically leap out of a police car to race and rescue a man in a wheelchair stuck on railroad tracks. Officer Erika Urrea is being hailed as a hero for her swift action pulling the man to safety seconds before his wheelchair was crushed by the oncoming Union Pacific train.
** WARNING: CONTENT MAY BE DISTURBING**
(Source: YouTube/Lodi Police Dept.)
“We are extremely proud of Officer Erica Urrea and her heroism,” the Lodi Police Department wrote in the caption accompanying the video from Wednesday.
The officer was near Lodi Ave and the railroad tracks just before 8:45 a.m. when she noticed the man was trying to free his wheelchair which had gotten stuck on the tracks.
Noticing that a train was fast approaching and the railroad crossing arms had started to come down, Urrea jumped out of her patrol car and raced toward the 66-year-old man, according to police.
“Can you get up?” she asked as she reached him. “Get up, get up, get up!”
After a heart-pounding moment of struggling to free the man from the wheelchair, the 14-year veteran officer was able to get him out as they both fell back onto the ground. The train roared past as Urrea got back on her feet and Officer Delgado arrived to help, exclaiming, “Oh my God.”
The man sustained a leg injury as he was reportedly hit by the passing train, according to KCRA. He was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. The unidentified man remains in stable condition at the hospital, according to KXTV.
“Officer Urrea risked her own life to save another and her actions prevented a tragedy today,” the police department wrote.
But the officer being praised for her actions declined an interview with KCRA-TV.
(Source: YouTube/KCRA-TV)
“Officer Urrea was just in the area. She’s willing to help, and what she did was very heroic,” Lodi Police Department spokesperson Melita Kautz said. “She prevented a tragedy and she saved a man’s life. She’s very humble in doing so.”
Reactions poured n on social media, with many expressing shock over the harrowing incident.
Oh, my God! This is altogether incredible and terrifying. Wow.
— Cassandra Webb (@cassandrawebbtv) August 13, 2020
My heart just skipped a few beats, wow
— Tom K (@HootervillePub) August 13, 2020
Whoa. That was close. 😳
— honeybear (@honeybear19871) August 13, 2020
Many wondered about the man and whether there was any fundraising effort to get him a new wheelchair.
Is there a gofundme or some other donation site to replace his wheelchair or any other expenses he may need covered?
— Alex Ward (@poolboy88) August 13, 2020
Others used the incident to remind the anti-police critics about the dangers of defunding police.
“Please wait on the line for the next associate. Your call is important to us”
— SarpeleGlykon (@SGlykon) August 13, 2020
It would’ve been hilarious to watch a social worker try to get him out of the train tracks
— spud (@spud00dz) August 13, 2020
Good people. Heroic people. Special police 👮♀️ Defund that? I don’t think so. Protect and Defend. Mission accomplished.
— Wayne Key (@twaynekey) August 13, 2020
Most Twitter users heaped on the praise for Officer Urrea.
OMG that is absolute heroism. Cheers to her.
— JKDAnthony10 (@JKDAnthony10) August 13, 2020
Officer Urrea is a BOSS!! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
— Walmart Hillbilly (@NoKoolAide) August 13, 2020
She is AWESOME! Second time this month she saved an ederly mans life. Great job❤
— WenWen (@q9_wen) August 13, 2020
Well done! Hats off to you officer.
— Rachna Malajure (@RachnaKadur) August 13, 2020
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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