First, the incessant blare of the train’s horn.
“It was just a non-stop blast of his horn,” Maloney said. “It wasn’t the normal, ‘I’m going through the intersection'” kind of a sound.
Then, “it was a huge kaboom. And I was just, I don’t believe this is happening,” Maloney said.
While his mind was in disbelief, his body went into action.
“I asked three farm workers to come with me, and they ran with me, and they helped me … climb into one of the cars,” Maloney said.
The car was derailed and lying on its left side. Inside the train, broken bones. Severe head wounds. People critically injured.
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He said his car had derailed but was still traveling “at 60 miles per hour on its side” before finally coming to a rest.
That’s when volunteers like Maloney climbed aboard the wreckage to help pull the wounded out.
“Somebody had to do something, paramedics weren’t there,” he said. “I’m not a hero. People need help, that’s what good people are about.”
Fast Facts: Major rail accidents
Kyung Lah reported from Oxnard and Holly Yan reported and wrote in Atlanta. CNN’s Steve Almasy, Karan Olson, Christie Bear and Paul Vercammen contributed to this report.
