Monday, December 07, 1998 (Washington, DC) U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today presented the department’s Award for Heroism to Norfolk Southern Railroad Conductor Robert Mohr for saving the life of a 19-month-old baby girl in Lafayette, Ind.

During the ceremony, Secretary Slater also presented a Certificate of Commendation to Rodney Lindley, a Norfolk Southern locomotive engineer on the same train, for the role he played in enabling Mohr to save the child’s life.

"Safety is President Clinton’s highest transportation priority and Robert Mohr took that priority personally to heart," Secretary Slater said. "President Clinton and I salute him for unselfishly risking his life to save the life of another person."

On May 12, 1998, Mohr and Lindley were operating a 96-car Norfolk Southern freight train on a 172-mile run from Decatur, Ill., to Peru, Ind. While in Lafayette, Ind., at 2 p.m. that afternoon, they spotted what turned out to be a 19-month old baby girl, Emily Marshall, who had wandered away from her mother onto the railroad tracks not far from her home.

Lindley sounded his horn repeatedly and applied the train’s emergency brakes, slowing it, a potentially dangerous action which could have led to derailment. Mohr left the locomotive cab, ran to the front of the engine, and positioned himself behind the train’s plow. While the train was a mere 40 yards away, the 19-month old Emily rolled off the track but not enough to avoid being hit by the oncoming train.

While holding onto a handrail at the front of the locomotive, Mohr extended his right leg and used his foot to push the baby out of harm’s way. He then jumped from the moving train to shelter the baby from further harm. Mohr risked serious injury and death to himself in doing so.

"Conductor Mohr and Locomotive Engineer Lindley have dramatically affected the lives of Emily and her family. I applaud their extraordinary acts of heroism, and I emphasize that railroad rights-of-way are very dangerous," said Federal Railroad Administrator Jolene Molitoris.

The Award for Heroism recognizes acts of heroism in transportation by persons who are not employed by the department.