Broken Down Train Causes Problems For Coraopolis Paramedics
CORAOPOLIS (KDKA) - Paramedics had a tough time reaching a patient in need due to a broken down train in Coraopolis.
The mile-long train broke down around 9 a.m. and blocked all six crossings in town.
While repairs were being made to the train, paramedics were called to a medical emergency. However, they were unable to cross the tracks to reach the Coraopolis Towers senior citizen high-rise.
As a result, Coraopolis Police Chief Ronald Denbow had a borough truck meet the ambulance on the opposite side of the tracks.
Paramedics found a gap in the train and crossed the tracks on foot. From there, the borough truck transported them to the high-rise.
"When I contacted the street department to still see if they were on the northern side of the railroad tracks, and one truck was, I had him standby at the Broadway railroad crossing to meet the paramedics there and transport the paramedics in a borough truck to Coraopolis Towers to treat the medical emergency down there," said Chief Denbow.
Despite the unusual circumstances, the patient is okay.
One of the train's coupling came loose, which caused it to break down. It took crews nearly three hours to make the repairs.
"There was something wrong with the brake line, the airline to the train," said Chief Denbow. "It stopped all traffic going to and from the railroad tracks, and the problem we have, that's the only way down to the northern part of the borough, which about 1,000 residents reside there."
During that time, pedestrians became frustrated with waiting for the train to move and crawled over and under it to cross the tracks.
"They get impatient; they want to crawl under the train or over the train and that is very bad," Chief Denbow said.
All is now well in Coraopolis and all six crossings have reopened.
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