Amazing Rescue on Local Train Tracks

This morning Francois Truffaut, an 80-year-old tourist from Quebec City, believed to have gone into diabetic shock, became stranded in his vehicle on train tracks in Old Orchard Beach, Maine.

James Laboke, a 17-year-old Sudanese refugee noticed the stopped vehicle while on his way to his job at the Eezy Breezy Restaurant. He sprinted to the nearest police station to get help.

Janet Paradiso, a captain on the police force was on patrol in the area at the time of the incident. She could hear the whistle of the train upon arriving at the scene.

With no time to spare, she rammed her police cruiser into Fruffaut’s 1987 Cadillac Seville, pushing it from the tracks.

Thirty seconds later, the train passed through the crossing.

“It was that close,” noted the police chief.

Today Laboke is being hailed a hero. When asked about the rescue, his boss was not at all surprised by his actions.

“That young young man is one of my most responsible employees. He’s just a great kid.”

Laboke said later, “I just knew I couldn’t let that man get crushed by a train.”