TCU Member and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) ticket agent, James Verschure, came to the aid of a man who fell onto the tracks at the LIRR Ronkonkoma station, saving the man’s life by making sure trains were stopped and power was cut to the electrified third rail.
The victim, a 43-year-old Riverhead resident, was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue after the Wednesday afternoon fall and treated for undisclosed injuries.
The unidentified victim was pulled from the tracks after the agent, alerted to unattended luggage on the platform, saw the unresponsive man less than 2 feet from the third rail.
Verschure, a 14-year member of TCU Local 177, notified the LIRR Movement Bureau to stop all trains and remove power from the third rail. He has been recommended for an LIRR Employee Safety Award for his role in the rescue.
“We are proud to have Brother Verschere as a member of TCU,” said TCU National Vice President Arthur Maratea. “His actions were quick and saved the passenger’s life.”
