MBTA workers honored for heroic actions

BOSTON (WHDH) -- Two MBTA workers were honored for their quick responses last month.

Ellen Coulter and Jacqueline Osorio were recognized for their fast-acting efforts which averted a tragedy at an Orange Line MBTA station in July.

“It is part of my job to watch out for things like that and make sure no one gets hurt. The safety of the public is important,” said Coulter.

Coulter saw a woman lying on the inbound tracks so she threw on the emergency brakes, which brought the train to a halt. Osorio, an inspector at the station, contacted dispatch to get the power cut off. Osorio then entered the pit to pull the suicidal woman to safety.

“You never know in those situations. You’re taught and they say, ‘Oh the trains going to stop,’ but you never know. It worked,” said Coulter.

This wasn’t Osorio’s first encountered with a situation like this. In 2009 an intoxicated woman fell onto the Orange Line tracks so she called the operator of the oncoming train and told her to pull the emergency brake.

“It’s part of my job to make sure that the trains stop. Ellen is driving a 70-plus ton train and being able to stop it on time, it’s quite a miracle,” said Osorio.

“You’re thinking -- I could have hit that person, but I didn’t. I’m glad I didn’t,” said Coulter.

Coulter and Osorio did not want to take credit for saving a life.