Injured Hiker Brought to Safety Thanks to Idaho Crews

(Source: UP Online News Article 05/08/2020)

Injured Hiker Brought to Safety Thanks to Idaho Crews

“Something was wrong, and we couldn’t just stand on the sidelines without doing anything.”

A distressed young man walking along the tracks near Owyhee Desert in southwestern Idaho caught the attention of a local Nampa, Idaho, crew consisting of Travis Campbell, locomotive engineer, and Jacqueline Estes, conductor, toward the beginning of their shift one recent afternoon.

Injured Hiker Brought to Safety Thanks to Idaho Crews

“When we first passed by the pedestrian, we thought it was bizarre he was all by himself among the sagebrush in the middle of nowhere,” Campbell said. “When we turned back and noticed him lying on the ground, it was clear we needed to safely intervene.”

The man, who appeared to be in his 20s, slightly raised his arm, as if he was asking Campbell to bring the locomotive to a halt.

Campbell immediately called the train dispatcher, who investigated the report and helped identify the best way to render aid. The Ada County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) and medical team were notified, and the ACSO advised they directed the individual to railroad property for emergency assistance.

He had reportedly been walking for days after injuring himself while hiking in the desert.

Local law enforcement directed the next locomotive rolling through to provide a ride by train to an accessible meeting point with local emergency responders.

By policy, only a locomotive engineer and conductor are authorized to be in the cab without direction from law enforcement or advance written notification.

“That phone call request is certainly one I’ll never forget,” said Conductor Brenton Crutcher. “The Sheriff’s Office needed our assistance to bring this guy to safety.”

Injured Hiker Brought to Safety Thanks to Idaho Crews

When Crutcher and his locomotive engineer, Andrew Olsen, approached the area and reached a complete stop, Crutcher directed the limping man onto the locomotive and picked up the man’s belongings so he wouldn’t trip or fall.

“It was weird not being able to shake his hand amidst the pandemic, but he verbally expressed his gratitude,” Crutcher said. “The nearest facilities and town were about 15 miles away, and the likelihood he would have been able to make it that far without us, especially given his condition, was slim.”

The crew gave him water to combat his dehydration and showed him where to sit.

“Aside from asking us about our jobs and how we got started, he remained quiet for a majority of the ride,” Crutcher said. “I think he was still trying to process what had happened and was worried about his injured leg.”

When the locomotive reached the emergency responders and police officers at the next crossing, the man approached the ambulance, where he was transported to the hospital.

“To say I learned a lot that day is an understatement,” Crutcher said. “If this scenario doesn’t reiterate how essential it is to be prepared, then I don’t know what will.”

Olsen and Crutcher thoroughly cleaned the locomotive with sanitation wipes and washed their hands multiple times after their interaction. The interaction was unconventional in and of itself, let alone during a pandemic.

Even with the unique circumstances and extra precaution required, the Idaho crews collectively demonstrated the importance of vigilance, safety and fellowship.

“Being a Union Pacific employee means we serve our communities, not just our customers,” Campbell said. “Putting yourself in other people’s shoes and helping in any way you can is what empathy is all about.”