Good Samaritan Killed by Train as He Attempts to Rescue Accident Victim
(College Park, Georgia – August 1, 2012)
Springing into action to rescue an elderly driver who had blacked out and driven off the Roosevelt Highway, down a 15-20 foot embankment, and onto a CSX railroad right-of-way, a passing motorist lost his life when a CSX freight train came barreling through the first accident scene and severed both his legs when he, himself, could not escape the approaching train Wednesday morning.
DeKai Amonrosi, 48, of College Park, GA, was one of three volunteer respondents attempting to free 73-year-old motorist Herbert Sinkfield of Fairbanks, GA from the wreckage of his minivan, but were interrupted by the CSX train which obviously had not been notified of the situation.
The other two who came to the motorist’s aid, Briana Bell and her friend, Sherees, jumped to the outside of the tracks, but Amonrosi stumbled as he attempted to escape, and was run over by the train, severing both his legs.
Even though horribly injured, Amonrosi was still conscious and alert during the entire ordeal. The two women ran to his aid after the train, which brushed the side of the overturned minivan, stopped.
Both victims were airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, GA, where Amonrosi succumbed to his injuries four hours later, but not before his family had met and been thanked by the family of the man he had first attempted to save.
“He would do anything for anybody,” said Alberto Roberts, a cousin of Amonrosi, who added that his cousin’s actions were not surprising or unusual for him. “He was just that type of person.”
Meanwhile, Sinkfield was admitted to Grady with bumps, bruises and broken ribs, but his family’s concern was for his would-be rescuer. “I feel right now more remorse and sorrow for the guy who lost his life helping my father,” lamented Moya Sinkfield. “He was like an angel.”
