Good Samaritan Honored For Rescue

LA GRANGE, IL — La Grange resident Betsy Buckley was driving on Hazel Avenue in November when she saw a car stalled on the railroad tracks at Shawmut Avenue. A freight train was approaching. People were still in the car, so she got out to see why, she said.

As it turns out, a grandmother was struggling to get her 4-year-old granddaughter out of the straps of a car seat. Buckley helped remove the child. Moments later, the train struck the car. The incident was shortly after 5 p.m. Nov. 19.

At Monday's La Grange Village Board meeting, Buckley, a special education coordinator for the Glen Ellyn School District, was honored for her role in helping rescue the girl from the car. She was presented with a citizen award and credited for "her prompt and alert actions that resulted in averting a potentially serious accident."

"This is a big thank you for what you did," Village President Tom Livingston told Buckley. "Our first responders cannot be everywhere at all times. They depend on people like you to get the job done."

A number of police officers and firefighters were on hand for the award presentation. Buckley thanked them for their work.

"You are our role models," she said. "You do it every day. I did it once."