Man Awarded Year Of Unlimited Train Rides For Heroic Actions

WEST VILLAGE, NY — A man was honored Wednesday for his "heroic" actions over the weekend to help stop and apprehend a saboteur trying to derail a train an A train.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials recognized Rikien Wilder, a 44-year-old Manhattan resident, for his actions that led to the arrest of a man accused of causing the derailment of a train at the 14th Street station at 8th Avenue.

Wilder was at the 14th Street A, C, E, subway station Sunday morning when he saw a man place debris on the track. Despite an incoming train, he quickly climbed down to the tracks to remove some of the debris just before a train passed through the area safely.

Wanting to alert MTA officials, he headed to an entrance way, but on his way saw the same man placing more debris on the northbound A train track. The debris caused the incoming train to derail, but Wilder chased down the suspect and held him at the station until police arrived.

Nobody was hurt in the train derailment, according to the MTA. However, the front car did suffer significant damage.

"New Yorkers are known for putting others ahead of themselves, and that's exactly what Rikien Wilder did," Patrick J. Foye, MTA chairman and CEO, said in a news release. "While we don't want members of the public placing themselves in danger by jumping onto the tracks, this brave Good Samaritan is a hero three times over — for removing debris, alerting personnel, and making sure the alleged perpetrator could not get away before police arrived. He truly exemplifies the best of New York."

Along with getting called a hero, Wilder was also rewarded with a year of free unlimited subway and bus rides and an official MTA "NY Tough" t-shirt.

Read More: Saboteur Causes Train To Derail At 14th Street With Track Debris