When the call goes out in an accident involving a pedestrian and a train, expectations are usually low that the result will not be a fatality.

Last Tuesday was an exception, and is being hailed as “a remarkable day” by the Vian Police Department (VPD).

After all, as it turned out, a pedestrian was pinned beneath a Union Pacific train on a bridge about 40 feet above Vian Creek, according to VPD, before first responders came to the rescue.

The pedestrian, who was not immediately identified but according to photos from the scene appeared to be a woman, “was carried and assisted off the tracks” by VPD, Vian firefighters, Pafford EMS and Sequoyah County Sheriff ’s deputies to a waiting ambulance. Others involved in the joint effort that highlighted the combined resources of several agencies were Union Pacific Railroad and Air Evac.

The incident occurred early Tuesday afternoon, and, “miraculously,” the pedestrian “was awake and alert.” By the time VPD Capt. Robert Allen, Sgt. Kevin Kirk and Officers Anna Males and Richard Scroggins tromped through high weeds, thick brush and large slag gravel, they were still about a quarter of a mile from the trestle bridge where the train was stopped.

But because of the nature of such bridges, the train blocked most of the track and bridge, leaving only narrow and precarious access along the edge of the bridge, which has no railing to prevent someone from falling to the creek bed below.

According to VPD, Kirk immediately shed his gear and scaled the outside of the train along the edge of the bridge to reach the pedestrian pinned between the train and the bridge, followed by Allen.

While Kirk, along with firefighters Dennis Fletcher and Jason Fieldgrove, worked to free the victim, Pafford EMS and Fire Chief Keith Boshers coordinated with Union Pacific to separate the train just short of where the victim was pinned, and also coordinated with the Air Evac team.

Once the victim was freed from beneath the train, Kirk, Fletcher and Fieldgrove helped the victim crawl from under the train, then Allen and Pafford personnel assisted the victim off the bridge.

“On a day when the heat and humidity were overwhelming, Vian Police Officer Kevin Kirk and Captain Robert Allen, along with Vian firefighters Fletcher and Fieldgrove and Pafford EMS, never thought twice to walk a narrow railing while dangling 40 feet off the ground to save the life of a complete stranger,” a VPD social media post said. “The bravery of a man is never truly known until you see the moment it is put to the test. These individuals showed no recourse for their own safety to save the life of another. Today was a great day to be called a Wolverine.”

It was not immediately clear why the pedestrian was on the railroad tracks, or why they were not able to get out of the path of the oncoming train.

VPD reminds residents that railroad tracks are very dangerous and are not intended for human traffic.