CLEVELAND, May 14 — At 2:30 p.m. today, a locomotive engineer and conductor were freed from their derailed Canadian Pacific locomotive after spending nearly eight hours trapped inside.
BLE engineer Mike Green and conductor Ed Mooney were both life-flighted to a nearby hospital after rescue workers finally freed them from their locomotive, which was buried in several feet of mud along the banks of the Susquehanna River. Brother Green left the scene under his own power, but Mooney suffered a severe leg injury and was transported by stretcher.
The train hit an apparent washout at 6:30 a.m. today, derailing its three locomotives and several cars. The lead locomotive was buried in mud, trapping the two train crew members inside. The floor of the locomotive was covered in a mixture of mud, water, and spilled diesel fuel.
Upon exiting the locomotive, Brother Green recognized fellow BLE members and thanked rescue workers.
Thanks to BLE Delaware & Hudson General Chairman Mike Twombly and Pennsylvania State Legislative Board Chairman Ken Kertesz for their reports from the scene of the accident.