SALT LAKE CITY - The Airport TRAX line is set to open soon, but before it goes into service, UTA and the fire department ran a drill involving a person pinned under a train.
In the practice scenario, someone pushed a man off the platform into an oncoming train on North Temple. The police have to investigate the attempted murder while emergency crews try to get the man out.
"He's trapped underneath the wheel housing assembly. So we are going to have to figure out how to get him out from underneath it. Actually we have to lift the train off of him," said Salt Lake City Fire Capt. Kyle Lavendar.
Even though the situation was imaginary, it is something that happens. With their new line opening up, UTA wants to be ready for the potentially deadly situation.
Salt Lake City Fire says they've responded to several TRAX versus pedestrian accidents already this year, and they say they're concerned about the new Airport line because of high foot traffic in the area.
"We are coming out here with the police and fire department and letting them get to know us and we are getting to know them, so that when we have a real life incident, it's not the first time that we've done it. It's not the first time that we've met," said Transit Police Lt. Doug McGrath.
When facing a real situation, firefighters say there's no time to think. They just fall back on their training.
"When lives are on the line time is of the essence and we are in rapid mode to get it done as quickly as we can," Lavendar said.
The new line is scheduled to open in April.
