U.S. Senator to Honor Norwalk Cop Who Prevented Train-SUV Collision

U.S. Sen Richard Blumenthal will present a “certificate of special recognition” Sunday to Norwalk Police Officer Neil Robertson for the officer’s actions in averting a collision between a train and an SUV on Wednesday at the Cross Street railroad crossing.

“Blumenthal will also read an official statement that has been inserted into the Congressional record memorializing Robertson’s exemplary performance,” according to a news release from the senator’s office.

As Patch previously reported, Robertson was on Cross Street when he saw the SUV’s back end in the path of an oncoming train at the crossing. He got out of his patrol car, rushed over and directed cars in front of the SUV to make room for it. The driver moved out of the way with about two seconds to spare.

The statement pointed out that “there are over 2,000 accidents at grade crossings each year, with over 200 people killed annually nationwide.”

After the deadly Metro-North collision at the Valhalla grade crossing earlier in February, Blumenthal and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, introduced the Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Act of 2015.

The proposed law, according to the news release, “focuses on the “Three Es,” which are the factors that experts have identified as the most effective means of reducing such collisions: engineering, education and enforcement.

“The bill provides new resources to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), states and communities to make critical engineering and safety upgrades at rail crossings, like installing new lights and signals, particularly at accident-prone crossings. It would also provide grant funding to strengthen education and public awareness of grade crossing dangers, and for law enforcement to reduce violations of traffic laws at crossings.”

Here’s Blumenthal’s official statement, inserted into the Congressional record:

I would like to pay tribute to a Connecticut resident who recently demonstrated extraordinary capability and heroism. Officer Neil Robertson of the Norwalk Police Department was on patrol this past Tuesday, Feb. 24, when he drove by a railroad crossing and noticed a vehicle partially stopped on the tracks. He also saw that a train was approaching.

The driver of the vehicle, who may not have been aware of the train, was unable to move forward because of gridlock in the intersection ahead. Officer Robertson quickly and accurately judged the impending danger. He immediately leapt from his car and directed traffic to move forward, allowing the driver of the stuck vehicle to escape the path of the oncoming train just seconds before it passed through the crossing.

Officer Robertson is a four-year veteran of the Norwalk Police Department. He deserves the highest praise not just for his choice to enter a career in public service but for his speedy and decisive actions to avert a potentially disastrous accident. I know that all of Connecticut joins me in honoring and thanking him for his exemplary performance in the line of duty.

Blumenthal is scheduled to be at Norwalk Police Headquarters at 1:15 p.m., Sunday.