Metro rescuer downplays heroism
The rescuer who pulled a man to safety from tracks at the Virginia Square Metro in August downplayed the act of heroism in an interview with WUSA 9 Monday. The video was posted last Wednesday to the Arlington Now blog.
Former Marine Dimas Pinzon told WUSA that as a child he learned about the dangers of electrified rails on New York City subways from his father who worked as a "third-rail man." Pinzon helped the man to safety as a train was approaching the station platform.
"I knew exactly where I was stepping," Pinzon said in the interview. "He used to take me down into the tunnels and show me what to touch, what not to touch. He said stay away from the third rail."
in the wake of the incident Metro officials have discouraged people against taking similar actions due to the danger posed by both trains and the electrified third rail, which provides power to rail cars. Pinzon acknowledged the danger of the situation in the interview.
"This is not to be tried at home, if you will," he said. "This is a dangerous situation. You touch that third rail and that's pretty much the end."
From the Post's archives:
D.C. visitors help rescue woman from Union Station tracks
Rockville man hit by train was blind
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Michael Bolden
| October 25, 2010; 12:51 PM ET
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Metro
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From Dr. Gridlock: I'd just like to second what the courageous Mr. Pinzon was saying about the dangers of third rails. A couple of years ago, I went through the Metro safety training course that track workers must pass. The instructor spent a lot of time in the classroom and out on a piece of training track explaining the proper way of stepping over a third rail.
How do you step over a third rail? Very carefully -- and slowly. I thought Pinzon offered the best advice when he quoted his father: "He said stay away from the third rail."
Posted by: Dr_Gridlock | October 25, 2010 1:17 PM | Report abuse
He should downplay it, since he isn't the person who actually saved anyone.
Posted by: getjiggly1 | October 25, 2010 1:56 PM | Report abuse
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