By Andrew Hackmack
Anthony and Randi LoCicero were on their way home from running errands last Thursday evening when the woman's car got stuck on the Long Island Rail Road tracks in Mineola. Minutes later, her car was totaled when it was hit by a westbound train - just moments after she was pulled to safety by the couple.
Anthony LoCicero is chief of the Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department. He and his wife were sitting in traffic on Roslyn Road in his chief's vehicle when, according to Randi, someone came up to their vehicle and told them about the car stuck on the tracks. They both got out and ran to help. Anthony grabbed his radio and called for additional help.
When the couple reached the car, they were told that the woman trapped inside could not walk without the aid of crutches, which made an unassisted escape nearly impossible. Then the gates descended and a train came bearing down.
The woman was pleading for her pocketbook and her crutches, Randi said, but there was no time. She grabbed the woman, pulled her out of the car and hustled her to safety. Her husband checked to make sure that no other people were in the car, and no more than 10 seconds later, Randi estimated, the train slammed into the car. "It was an express train, so it was moving," Randi said. She leaned the woman up against a nearby wall and shielded her in case there might be any flying debris.
Randi said the woman told her she accidentally turned onto the tracks, thinking they were a street. "There could have been confusion," she said, noting that there is a lot of construction in the area to raise the train tracks.
The LoCiceros know something about helping people. In addition to being the fire chief, Anthony is also a paramedic for the Nassau County Police Department. His wife has worked as a New York City police officer for 10 years and is a volunteer in the Franklin Square and Munson F.D.
Randi said that although there are no railroad crossings in the department's jurisdiction, Franklin Square firefighters and EMS personnel have taken an MTA training course to assist other departments in case of an accident. Additionally, Randi underwent NYPD "track training" to become aware of railroad tracks' surroundings. She was recently presented with a Woman of Distinction Award by Assemblyman Thomas Alfano for her volunteerism and public service. This week her husband will receive a Make a Difference award from the Town of Hempstead.
Alfano is a longtime friend of the LoCiceros, and knew them even before they were married. "It is no surprise to me that this dynamic duo saved a life," he said. "They are truly heroes."
The assemblyman commended the outstanding dedication of Anthony and Randi to the fire department and the community. Anyone who might find themselves in a situation similar to the woman stuck on the tracks should only hope the LoCiceros are nearby, Alfano said.
Randi said that after word spread about their actions, they got dozens of calls from family and friends commending them on a job well done. They hadn't thought twice about helping, she said. "It was pretty much an instinct. Any firefighter or cop would have done this."
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