96-year-old pulled to safety before train smashes car
A 96-year-old Burr Ridge woman whose car was stuck on train tracks in Lombard was saved by two good Samaritans and a police officer just before her vehicle was struck by a Metra train Monday night near Grace Street.
The woman, Antoinette Lazarra, was driving a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr east on St. Charles Road and attempting to make a right turn on Grace shortly after 8:30 p.m. when she lost control, drove onto the tracks and got stuck, authorities said. She had been reported missing by her family in Burr Ridge at 8 a.m. that day.
Authorities said Stephen Spapperi, 19, of Lombard, was driving north on Grace Street, approaching the intersection, when he saw the car drive on the tracks. Justin Mueller, 24, of Lombard, was driving behind Spapperi and also saw Lazarra get stuck. They called 911 and headed over to help.
Police officer Dan Herrera was in his cruiser at nearby Lombard Commons and reached the scene about a minute later. When he arrived, the men already were trying to speak to the woman, who appeared confused.
"I saw the wheels on her car spinning, which told me that the car was stuck and knew we just needed to get her out of there," Herrera said. He said they opened the door, got her out of the car and began helping her walk away. It was slow going because Lazarra uses a cane.
They might have continued at that pace were it not for what happened next. Herrera said they heard the crossing gate begin to go down, saw the light from an approaching Metra train and realized they needed to get moving a lot faster.
Thinking quickly, Spapperi picked Lazarra off her feet and made for safety. After a beat, Herrera and Mueller grabbed Lazarra as well and the four made their way as fast as they could out of the way.
Herrera said they'd only made it about 20 feet south of the tracks when the train smashed into Lazarra's car.
"My first thought was trying to gauge where the vehicle was going to go in relation to where we were," Herrera said.
Luckily for the group, the car did not become airborne and instead was dragged for a short distance before the train could come to a stop.
"It was a heart-stopping moment when we saw how close we were to the train," Herrera said. "But as cliché as it sounds, it's all part of the job."
Lazarra was treated at the scene by Lombard paramedics and taken to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove for tests and observation. Her family met her at the hospital.
Herrera said he stayed on the scene to write the accident report. He said the train resumed its route about an hour later.
"It's nice to know that we still have people that act when others are in need," police Chief Roy Newton said Tuesday. "I truly believe that they helped save a life this day. These are both Lombard residents and I'm very proud of our town. Lombard is a community that cares about its neighbors and that's evident with this situation."
Reflecting on the experience, Herrera said he was glad Spapperi and Mueller were there to help.
"I was glad to find out they were Lombardians," Herrera said. "I say the community of Lombard helped prevent a tragic accident and turn it into a happy story."