A Pell City man was airlifted to University Hospital in Birmingham the morning of Wednesday, July 2, after falling 40 feet from a bridge to the train tracks below.Nicholas Shea Davis, 29, suffered a broken leg and rib injuries in the fall, Moody Fire Chief James Robinson said.
Robinson said Davis appears to have been walking along the bridge near Turtle Rock Road looking for help after a car wreck a short distance away when he fell onto the tracks. The train tracks wind along U.S. 78 near Moody.
“In the early morning darkness, the victim apparently fell from the bridge, sustaining leg fractures and rib injuries,” he said.
The incident was reported at about 4:15 a.m.
St. Clair County Sheriff’s Capt. David Garrett said the emergency 911 call was made by the engineer of a passing Norfolk Southern train who spotted Davis lying next to the tracks.
“The folks on the train saw him and made the assumption that another train had struck him,” Garrett said. “That is not the case. This was not a pedestrian that was struck by a train. It appears he fell onto the tracks from the bridge.”
Davis’ rescue from the tracks was a challenge for emergency responders, Robinson said. Units from the Moody and Cook Springs fire departments responded to the call.
“Upon arriving, we found an injured man lying at the edge of the tracks,” Robinson said. “Rescuers rappelled from the bridge to reach the victim. After assessing and treating his injuries, rescuers secured the man in a basket stretcher and used ropes to lift him to the roadway.”
Robinson said Davis was transported via LifeSaver helicopter.
He said Norfolk Southern suspended all rail travel through the area during the rescue operation.
He credits training and cooperation as keys to the rescue’s success.
“Specialized rescue equipment and training helped us quickly and efficiently remove the patient from the ravine. If we had not had the equipment and training, we would have been forced to carry the victim out in a basket, requiring much more time and work,” he said. “Good communication and cooperation between the two fire departments, law enforcement, and railroad officials made the operation go smoothly and safely.”
