ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Four Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies who saved a 15-year-old boy's life were acknowledged at an official award ceremony Tuesday.
OCSO spokesperson Ingrid Tejada-Monforte said the deputies were honored for their efforts in saving the life of a boy who was struck by a SunRail train near the Meadow Woods SunRail station on Aug. 30. The court security deputies, Thomas Rennes, Greg Russ, Wilfredo Sotomayor and John Ventriere were given certificates of appreciation at the Sheriff's Office's annual awards ceremony.
The teenager was reportedly standing on the train's tracks as it approached him and tried to jump out of the way at the last second. The incident report defines the crash as an attempted suicide.
The court security deputies were riding on the train on their way home from the Orange County Courthouse when the boy was struck. They responded immediately.
"One of us was on the radio, one was dealing with fire rescue personnel, one of us was on the phone with the parents and another guy was working with the victim," Russ said. "We were in the right place at the right time."
Tejada-Monforte said all of the deputies found the victim with multiple injuries, but still breathing.
"We were all thinking the worst but when we got there, he was in pretty good shape considering he was hit by a 70 mph train," Russ said.
They are being recognized for their quick response in calling dispatch and requesting assistance from the Orlando Fire Department, Tejada-Monforte said.
"Due to their quick actions in a near fatal incident, a life was saved," she said.
The deputies were among many who were honored at the ceremony, which is being held at 505 East McCormick Road in Apopka.