Fright can be heard in engineer's voice on dispatch tapes
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
The tone of engineer Ronald Gomes’s voice took a frightening turn on dispatch tapes released today by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Concern became panic as a runway box car was barreling toward his train.
“There’s a box car coming right down on top of me,” Gomes said in a concerned voice. “Is it OK to back up?
Gomes had brought commuter rail train 917 to a stop near Canton Junction, hoping to spare his 300 passengers from the force of the 112-ton box car. As the runway car sped faster toward his locomotive, the tone of his voice changed.
“We’ve got an emergency!” Gomes screamed. “Emergency! Emergency!
Before he could throw the train in reverse, the box car slammed into the commuter train and knocked Gomes all over the cab. Dripping with blood, he reached again for the radio, trying to get help for the 150 passengers that suffered predominantly minor injuries.
“A box car just crashed into us,” Gomes said, his voice garbled and full of pain. “Please send medical assistance.”
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