A carload of Atlanta Hawks fans have plenty to be thankful for after they were saved from an oncoming train near the Georgia World Congress Center by a local volunteer.
Rodney Daniel, a production manager for Georgia’s Festival of Trees, was just finishing up his shift when he heard a train coming around the corner of the Congress Center and noticed a car stuck on the tracks, according to 11 Alive.
“And all I hear is, ‘we gotta move the car, we gotta move the car!’ And I said, ‘hey guys, we gotta stop that train first,'” Daniel stated.
A local volunteer was just wrapping up his shift at the Georgia World Congress Center and helped get them all to safety. https://t.co/2LQ4QOLbnD
— WFMY News 2 (@WFMY) November 22, 2022
Using his cellphone flashlight, Daniel caught the attention of the train’s conductor, who was then able to stop the train as the car was moved clear of the tracks, the outlet reported. The car was wedged onto the train track, Daniel explained, requiring him to “get a rock and prop it under the tire,” which allowed them to back the car off the tracks. (RELATED: Coal Miners Rescue Couple Stranded In Broken-Down Electric Car)
“They were very thankful. The young ladies, they weren’t from this area,” Daniel explained. “So they were scared and confused, they were really terrified.”
Daniel said he is grateful no one was hurt and that the conductor was able to stop the train, while downplaying his own role in the rescue, telling the outlet that he wasn’t looking to “be a hero.” He said he was just trying to help — something he says is what Christmas is all about.
“You have to be a blessing to get a blessing. So that’s where I was at in that moment,” he told the outlet.
The festival’s executive director, Angie Ulibarri, wasn’t surprised by Daniel’s heroism.
“Rodney is an amazing human,” she said. “He will do anything for anyone.”