FULTON COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
A good Samaritan died Tuesday after he was hit by a train while trying to rescue the driver of a vehicle who was stuck on some railroad tracks in Fulton County.
The accident happened at the Stacks Road overpass near Roosevelt Highway. That's where the driver of the vehicle, 83-year-old Herbert Sinkfield, drove off the overpass and landed on the tracks below, police said.
Fulton County police said 48-year-old De Kai Abusani Amonrasi witnessed the accident and was one of several people trying to help Sinkfield when he was unable to get out of the way of an oncoming train. As a result, Amonrasi's legs were severed.
Two women, Briana Bell and her friend Sherees, also saw the accident and tried to help out.
"It's tragic because we were all trying to help someone else," Bell said. "And (Amonrasi) just got hurt in the midst of trying to help."
Sherees said Amonrasi had tried to get out of the way of the train in time.
"I think, you know how you have the two guides on the rail? He just kind of tripped on the edge," she said.
Amonrasi, whom the women call a hero, died shortly after the accident.
"I just said a prayer with him and kept talking to him and told him he wasn't going to go anywhere because he was trying to help someone else, so he was going to be okay," Bell told CBS Atlanta News.
Tuesday evening, CBS Atlanta News spoke to Amonrasi's family about the horrible accident.
"I am sad that he is gone I wish he was here," said Amonrasi's cousin, Dionne Roberts. "But he did save someone's life, and that does make you feel good. But you still have this hurt in your heart that he is not here anymore."
Roberts' husband, Alberto, said it wasn't surprising that Amonrasi tried to help Sinkfield.
"He would do anything for anybody," Alberto Roberts said. "It is not an unusual that he would see a car go off the embankment and put his own life in jeopardy to save somebody else. He was just that type of person."
CBS Atlanta News also spoke to Sinkfield's son Tuesday evening.
"He blanked out," Moya Sinkfield said. "He doesn't really know what happened, the only thing he knows, is when (the rescuers) came down to get him. So evidently, he passed out or blanked out or something."
Moya Sinkfield said his father, who was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment, had some bumps and bruises on his head and some broken ribs, but should be fine.
"I feel right now more remorse and sorry for the guy who lost his life helping my father, like an angel," Moya Sinkfield said. "You know, I feel for him and I want to give him all the praise and his family. He is just an angel, I really can't put it in words to say how grateful I am that he tried, and I can't put into words how sorry I am that he lost his life."
Both families met shortly after the accident. Amonrasi's family said it gave them closure to hear how grateful the Sinkfields were that Amonrasi tried to help someone in need.
"It felt good talking to them," Dionne Roberts said. "I want him to be remembered as a kind person who risked his life to save someone else. I want him to be remembered as that kind of person."
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De Kai Abusani Amonrasi
Vehicle that fell off the bridge
Herbert Sinkfield
