Fifteen Patchwork Punkins

October 16 in the predawn darkness, Utah Highway Patrol trooper Ruben Correa pulled an unconscious driver from his car seconds before the northbound FrontRunner train smashed into it. I don’t know if I could risk my life the way he did to save someone else in peril. But I’m very glad there are people in the world who can and do. Clearly, Officer Correa is a hero. Riley Nelson, the operator of the FrontRunner that day, was five minutes late getting started because several people had called in sick. He hit the emergency brake when he saw headlights on the track – 21 seconds before impact – so the train was going 30 mph instead of 79 when it hit. Nelson acknowledged Correa’s heroism, but also credited divine intervention. “Every morning, I pray to Heavenly Father and ask that He protect me and all those around and on my train. This morning, I know He did, and I thank Him for that.”