After Woman's Leg Severed By Train, Morristown First Responders Rush To Rescue

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Morristown public safety officials are recognizing ten first responders for helping save a woman's life after her leg was severed by a train.

An officer immediately applied a tourniquet and stayed with her to provide first aid and keep her calm, and one of the responding firefighters was able to recover the woman's leg and give it to medical personnel.

A GoFundMe to support the woman's recovery has raised more than $38,000.

The incident happened at around 7:23 p.m. on May 4 at the Morristown train station, officials said. NJ Transit officials originally reported that a woman on the platform sustained "a severe leg injury" after being struck by the train.

The victim, identified in the fundraiser as Lisa, reportedly pulled herself up off the train tracks and began yelling for help.

The Morristown Department of Public Safety said that Officer Nico Hollain was the first on scene, after a conductor came to ask him for help. He called for medical assistance, and quickly located the woman at the end of the eastbound platform.

Hollain saw that the woman's left leg was severed above the knee, and she was bleeding heavily. He put a tourniquet around her leg and tightened it until the bleeding began to stop, officials said.

Officers Michael Cerrick and David Moran arrived to help Hollain and provide initial first aid. They continued talking to the woman and holding her hand while they waited for EMS to arrive and during hospital transport, officials said.

These officers' actions "undoubtedly saved this woman's life," said Police Chief Darnell Richardson, Fire Chief Robert Flanagan, and Public Safety Director Michael C. Corcoran. Jr.

"They exhibited unwavering composure which facilitated quick effective decision-making and provided comfort and support to the victims," officials said.

Several other officers helped to secure the scene, including Lieutenant Joe Heuneman and Officers Sean Grawehr, Bobby Rosado, and Riley Cedar.

Morristown firefighters Tom Dennehy and Sean Gaffney, with Tour 2 Acting Captain Mike Cirelli, also came to the train station to assist and were able to locate the severed limb on the tracks.

"Once ensuring the scene was safe, Firefighter Gaffney crawled underneath the train, located the limb and gave it to medical personnel," officials said.

Public safety officials said these officers and firefighters "displayed great teamwork and professionalism throughout this harrowing incident."

"Indeed, we are proud of all for their fearless dedication to duty and for bringing a sense of calm to a truly chaotic situation," said the statement from Corcoran and the chiefs.

Doctors later determined that Lisa's knee couldn't be saved and that she needed further amputation, according to the GoFundMe organizer.

"Extreme challenges exist for Lisa to return to the active and fun loving daughter, sister, and friend we all know and love," the page states. "However, watching Lisa fearlessly smile through adversity inspires us all."