Young Boy Helps in Heroic Save

At 6 a.m. this morning, a police officer saved a man’s life when she crashed her cruiser into a car that was stalled on the train tracks.

Janet Paradiso, a local police captain, arrived on the scene at 6:05, and heard the whistle from the train as she approached. Later at the police station she said, “I knew there was no time. I had to do something.”

Janet rescued an unconscious Francois Truffaut, 80, seconds before the Amtrak Downeaster train came rushing by at 40 miles per hour. “It was close,” said chief of police Brian Paul.

The save was thanks to a heroic young boy who sprinted 100 yards to the police station to report this minutes before the train was due to arrive. While James Laboke, 17, was on his way to work, he came across Francois who was passed out in the driver seat.

Shirley Temple, conductor of the Downeaster, couldn’t believe the situation she was in: “I had a lump in my throat the whole time. I was hoping for the best”. Even if she threw the breaks on full, there was no chance to avoid hitting the car without endangering the lives of all passengers on the train.


Francois, who is now resting in stable at Southern Maine Medical Center said, “I don’t remember a thing.” Police believe Francois, who is diabetic, went into insulin shock just as he reached the railroad crossing.

Francois frequently makes the trip down from Quebec City, Canada to Old Orchard Beach. The town that is famous for its long beaches, amusement parks and French fries. He said that he has made the trip since he was a child.

James did not want to take much credit, “I never thought about it. I just knew I couldn’t let that men get crushed by a train”. Even with the unexpected delay, James still got to work on time at the Eezy Breezy Restaurant.

Chales Champaigne, James’ boss and the owner of the Eezy Breezy Restaurant said that is the type of person James is. “It doesn’t surprise me at all,” he said, “He’s just a great kid”.