Good Samaritan Who Rescued Woman From Burning Car Honored

YORKTOWN, NY — The Metro-North Railroad employee who helped save an unconscious woman who was trapped inside an overturned, burning car on the Taconic State Parkway was honored by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Wednesday. The MTA said Brian Geary received special recognition from the board for his extraordinary efforts saving Linda Gironda, 56, of Yorktown, Thursday, April 19. Geary received a commendation for his heroic actions from Chairman Joseph J. Lhota at the meeting of the MTA Board.

Geary, who lives in East Fishkill, has been with Metro-North for about four years and works the night shift in the railroad’s Signal and Communications shop in Croton-Harmon. He was driving on the Taconic at 2:30 a.m. April 19, heading to an operations training course in North White Plains, when he passed a vehicle that was overturned and on fire on a rocky ledge on the side of the road, according to an MTA spokesperson.

“I’ve never been one to sit around and wait for someone else to help," Geary said. "Flames were burning through the engine of a rolled over car, with someone possibly trapped inside. There was no time for waiting around. I had to take action before it was too late.”

Geary, who had passed the off ramp where the car was overturned, turned his vehicle around and drove in the opposite direction on the off ramp to pull up to the crash site. He said he leaped out of his car, grabbed his flashlight and called 911.

Geary beamed his flashlight into the car and saw the unconscious woman wedged diagonally in the front of the vehicle. The doors were locked; Geary said he shouted to the woman and pounded against the car window, but she did not respond.

Two other drivers stopped to help, and the men attempted to rock the car upright. As flames continued to envelop the car, Geary thought he might have a fire extinguisher inside of his trunk. When he opened his trunk, he didn’t see a fire extinguisher, but he did find a bat. Geary plays baseball with a league in Dutchess County and had the bat stowed inside his trunk for an upcoming game, he said.

Geary said he ran back to the overturned car with his bat and immediately starting swinging it into the windshield.

“I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to get her out in time, and I gave it everything I had,” he said, “every ounce of my strength.”

After a solid minute of pummeling the windshield with his bat, the glass started to spider and crack. Geary was able to rip out the windshield, and with the help of the other good Samaritans, he lifted the woman from the car and to safety.

Within a minute of pulling the woman out of the vehicle, the car was completely engulfed in flames.

“We kept her a safe distance away from the vehicle, but we didn’t want to move her too much because she was injured,” Geary said.

In response to Geary’s 911 call, the Yorktown Heights fire department arrived and put out the flames. The Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps took the woman to Westchester Medical Center.

“Brian Geary’s actions speak volumes about the extraordinary character of our employees at Metro-North,” said Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi. “I’m proud to join the MTA Board in congratulating Mr. Geary for his valor and compassion.”

A response to an email to Westchester Medical Center regarding Gironda's condition was not immediately forthcoming.

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