JOB WELL DONE
Never off-duty: the reality of the Amtrak rescue
n BY JENNIFER TRATTLER
After riding more than 300 miles from New Jersey to Washington
D.C., for the annual Police Unity Tour, Lyndhurst Local 202 Michael
Keane was ready to relax after an exhausting four days.
As he sat aboard the Amtrak train with his fiancé, Courtney, he was
more than three-quarters of the way home when all hell broke loose
in what became the harrowing crash, a story that chronicled Keane’s
heroics across the country.
A long grinding sound followed a high-pitched noise. The smell of
smoke permeated the air. The Amtrak train crashed. His car derailed,
but remained upright as the train came to a halt. Chaos ensued.
Keane and his fiancé slammed into the window during the crash.
“I wrapped my arm around her to throw her between the seats,”
recalled Keane. He instinctively covered his future bride to protect her.
Once the initial panic settled, he checked himself and Courtney for
injuries. What next? He had one option: shed his civilian demeanor
and do what a first responded does.
Wires were scattered across the ground. Lights were down. Debris
was every where. Keane took Court