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SEPTA Uses Stroller Accident To Spread Awareness Of Emergency Procedures

By Steve Tawa

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - SEPTA says its emergency response plans were tested and worked perfectly on Wednesday, when an errant stroller with a 14-month infant aboard tipped off a subway platform onto the tracks below (see related story).

A SEPTA security camera captured the routine wait for a train on a Market-Frankford Line platform at the 56th Street station, until the stroller, which was not locked, rolled away from a distracted 28-year-old mother. It toppled over onto the rail with the toddler inside.

The mom jumped onto the tracks, grabbed her girl and handed her up to a passenger. Also, SEPTA Safety Director Scott Sauer says another alert passenger hit the emergency call button less than 20-seconds after the child's fall.

"It's a direct link to our police department."

Sauer says their command and control center inside SEPTA Headquarters at 12th and Market Streets sized up the situation and took action within a minute.

"Our police department was able to notify our train dispatchers who successfully stopped the approaching train at the prior station.

Sauer says it's a reminder to be mindful of your surroundings while on or near SEPTA property. Does he think the public knows about those yellow emergency boxes mounted columns at every stop?

"Well, if they don't, they do now."

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