A young Sudanese refugee prevented a car from being crushed by a train early Monday morning in Old Orchard Beach.
While walking to work, James Laboke found Francois Truffaut slumped over the steering wheel of his car that had stalled on the train tracks. After trying unsuccessfully to wake Truffaut, Laboke ran to the nearby police station to get help. An officer was able to ram Truffaut’s car off the tracks with her police cruiser seconds before train passed by.
“I never thought about it. I just knew I couldn’t let that man get crushed by a train,” Laboke said.
Seventeen-year-old Laboke has lived in Old Orchard Beach for three years. He has worked as a waiter at the Eezy Breezy Restaurant for eight months, and his habit of walking to work every morning is what caused him to find Truffaut.
Police Chief Brian Paul said that Janet Paradiso, a captain with the police force, rammed Truffaut’s car out of the way of the train just 30 seconds before the train came.
“It was that close,” he said.
Truffaut, who has diabetes, is in stable condition at Southern Maine Medical Center. He says he does not know what caused his car to stall.
“I don’t remember a thing,” he said.
Laboke’s boss, Charles Champaigne, said later that Laboke’s actions were not surprising.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all. That young man is one of my most responsible employees. He’s just a great kid.”