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CNN Live Sunday

Train Conductor Saves the Life of Oregon Boy

Aired August 19, 2001 - 17:56   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: Now an amazing story of bravery to tell you about: a train conductor saving the life of an Oregon boy at just the last second.

Here's reporter Kelly Love with Northwest NewsChannel 8.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY LOVE, NORTHWEST NEWSCHANNEL 8 REPORTER (voice-over): Aric Jeffs relied on his strength, his reach and his instincts, hanging from the front of the train, grabbing the little boy a split second before impact.

LEVI ARLEDGE, BROTHER: The only choice he had was to grab him and pull him on the train. So safely, and happily, my brother still lived.

LOVE: Levi Arledge describes what happened on that trestle August 9th. They had gone up there, six kids, to walk on the trace. They were halfway across when the afternoon freight train sounded its whistle.

DAVE FARREL, PORTLAND WESTERN RAILROAD: Aric yelled that we had kids on the bridge.

LOVE: Dave Farrel with Portland Western Railroad says the train going 10 miles an hour immediately got on its brakes, but because of all the freight onboard it couldn't immediately stop.

As for the kids?

FARREL: They ran toward the train, because it was the closest point to get back.

LOVE: But the 7-year-old kept falling between the gaps in the railroad ties and eventually got stuck.

ARLEDGE: He was scared and nervous, but when he panics, he doesn't think, so he just stays right there tight. And he doesn't really like think.

ARIC JEFFS, CONDUCTOR: When he looked up at me, it was -- it was a look that he gave up. That -- you know it's hard to explain, because he did give up. He looked like he wanted to jump, but he chose not to, and he -- he leaned down and grabbed the rail and just kind of looked at me like that was it.

LOVE: Aric Jeffs says he had a split second to react.

JEFFS: I couldn't -- couldn't look away. I had an old-timer tell me that -- also had mentioned that, told me, before you hit somebody look away, don't look at their face. And you know, it was a little kid. I couldn't do that.

LOVE: Because of their close call and the lecture they got from Jeffs, the boys say they'll never go on that trestle again.

Kelly Love, KGW, Northwest News Channel 8.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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