By Pete Bannan | [email protected] | The Delaware County Daily Times
Officials are honoring the actions of Ridley Township Officer Sara Howell for pulling out the driver of a burning vehicle that had just struck a train.
Howell, a eight-year veteran, pulled up Wednesday shortly before 4 a.m. up the street from where the incident happened on the Ridley Park side of Swarthmore Avenue and the CSX tracks.
Ridley police Capt. James Dougherty said while Ridley Park police are still investigating the incident, Howell's report shows her actions saved the life of the victim, a Springfield man in his 50s who was injured after the crash.
"The gate was down. The engine was eastbound towards Glenolden," Dougherty said. "After the initial impact, it was on the Ridley Township side of the tracks on the north side. She was first officer to the scene and have access to vehicle."
Howell's report stated the sedan came to a stop about 50 to 100 feet from the crossing and she heard an operator screaming as the front of the vehicle was fully involved in flames.
Her report states she approached on the driver's side and opened the door, but with thick black smoke pouring from the burning vehicle she could not see the driver, who had climbed into the passenger side to get away from the flames.
Howell's report stated she went to the passenger side and was able to pry open the door and remove the man as flames consumed the car.
"She pulls him out of car. He had facial injuries and was unable to stand or walk on his own," Dougherty said. "It's pretty remarkable she was able to drag him down the embankment to the parking lot."
From there, paramedics from Crozer-Chester Medical Center arrived, treated him and took him to the hospital. He was listed Thursday in stable condition.
"Her actions were so remarkable," Dougherty said. "By all accounts her actions were very heroic. It's just her adrenaline kicking in. She was doing her job."
Dougherty said that after the victim was treated, she turned to the concern about what the train was carrying, and whether there were any hazardous materials involved.
The train car involved was reported to have paraffin wax and arriving firefighters from Ridley, Ridley Park and Prospect Park arrived and controlled the flames.
The engineer of the train was not injured. Officials are examining video from the train and the incident is still under investigation by the Ridley Park police.
Doughtery said Howell, who has a young child, comes from a family of police officers. Her sister and husband are both in the Upper Darby Police Department.
It is also not the first time she has been involved in saving a life. In 2023 Howell helped revive a 1-year-old baby who was drowning in a bathtub in neighboring Glenolden.