Man Saves Teen, Car From Train, But Don't Call Him A Hero
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The mystery man who helped a teenager get a stalled car off railroad tracks in Tinley Park last week as a train was approaching says he's not really a hero.
A freight train had just passed when Joe McDonnell saw a teenage driver's stalled car stuck on the tracks.
"He was waving his hands over his head, saying, 'Oh my God, there's another train coming,' " McDonnell said.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser Reports
Podcast
It was a Metra train, and McDonnell told the teen to put the car in neutral and they started pushing.
"As soon as we got the car over the tracks, the gates started coming down," McDonnell said.
William Anetsberger's car had run out of gasoline at the worst possible spot.
Yesterday the 17-year-old dropped in to McDonnell's office to say thank you for saving his life.
"I don't think he would have waited there if had been that close," McDonnell said. "He was very grateful, and a very nice young man."
It's more than can be said for those who stood and watched and did nothing.
"That's what I was surprised about," McDonnell said.
