Norman G. Hines saved Victoria Pankratz from being struck by a train, Verndale, Minnesota, December 7, 1999. Ms. Pankratz, 39, was attempting to cross a railroad crossing in her motorized cart when the cart stalled. She became stranded on the track on which a freight train was then seen approaching at about 60 m.p.h. A motorist, Hines, 77, retired salesman, arrived at the scene and stopped at the crossing, the gates of which were down. After seeing Ms. Pankratz’s predicament, he immediately left his car and ran to her, approaching the cart from behind. Hines attempted unsuccessfully to push the cart off the track as the train bore down at undiminished speed. He then went to the front of the cart and, just as the train reached the crossing, pulled the cart from the track; in his so doing, the cart impacted him, injuring a knee. A projection of the passing train struck the rear of the cart. Regaining his footing, Hines secured the cart until the train cleared the crossing. The train stopped, its lead locomotive then more than a mile from the scene. Ms. Pankratz sustained minor injury, from which she recovered. Hines required surgery for his injured knee.
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