Amid chaos, the instincts of a firefighter kick in
During the chaos of Friday night's subway crash, the actions of some passengers stood out as they bound wounds, calmed nerves, and even offered cab money to get the injured to hospitals, riders said.
"One guy, a firefighter, he was taking care of things, helping everybody," said passenger Laszlo Panajoth, 28, who joined others in expressing their thanks.
The firefighter, Kevin Carter, 41, a 20-year veteran of the North Reading Fire Department, said his evening started out smooth. He had a day off from work and a pair of free Red Sox tickets. His brother, Michael, came down from New Hampshire to go to the game with him.
But on the way to Fenway, they were on the Green Line trolley that was rammed from behind, resulting in 49 injuries, none life-threatening.
"We both ended up on the floor. All the lights went out." Carter, who is also an emergency medical technician, said in a phone interview late Friday night. "My brother hit his head on a pole and was bleeding."
Carter grabbed a jacket and wrapped it around his brother's head. Then he turned his attention to the other riders on the packed train.
"I told everybody to relax and asked who was hurt," he said.
One woman had a hip injury, and Carter said he placed her on the floor of the train, trying to make her comfortable.
It was an intense situation, Carter said, but his training helped center him, allowing him to aid others.
"As soon as I realized what was happening - I couldn't believe it happened. I was laying on the ground going 'you've got to be kidding me,' " he said.
When help came, Carter identified himself as a firefighter and helped passengers out before he "got out of the way" of the swarm of police officers, T workers, firefighters, and Boston EMS responders. He helped carry his brother up to the surface. Kevin Carter had also suffered bruises, so he and his brother were taken to Brigham and Women's Hospital and released that night.
Carter's actions didn't surprise his supervisor.
"That's typical of that gentleman," said North Reading's fire chief, Richard N. Harris. "I'm very proud of him. People needed help, so he stood up and did what he could. That's just the kind of guy he is. He'll help anybody at any time."
Carter was back on the job yesterday, working a 24-hour shift.
John M. Guilfoil can be reached at jguilfoil@globe.com 
