(The following story by Cathy Johnston was published in the January 10 issue of the Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise.)
AYER, Mass. — A Leominster man faces several railroad-related charges for allegedly stepping in front of a commuter train in Ayer on Monday after being denied access by a conductor.
Ruben Guastavino, 20, of 101 Mechanic St., allegedly stood on the tracks and put his hands up to stop the train as it began to pull away from the Ayer depot around noon.
It worked.
Seeing Guastavino ahead, the engineer was able to halt the train without hitting him, police said. Guastavino was arrested after Ayer police were summoned to the scene by railroad officials.
MBTA officials said they did not know why Guastavino was denied access to the train, which was headed west from Boston toward Shirley, Leominster and Fitchburg.
Guastavino was arraigned in Ayer District Court this week, charged with a railroad track ride violation, railroad malicious stopping, railroad obstruction, and endangering the public. He was released on personal recognizance and is due to return on Jan. 17, with a condition that if he does not appear on that date he will owe the court $1,000 cash.