Three Heroes Honored by Glendale Train Company

Rommel Primus (left) used his belt as a tourniquet, William Bagley (second to left) stopped the train, Connor Ray (second from right) moved woman off of tracks and Christopher Smith (right) executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter. Photo courtesy of Alzheimer’s Association.

By David Brand

Glendale’s New York & Atlantic Railway Co. honored three men who rescued a woman with dementia, who wandered onto a train track in September.

The three men — Connor Ray, Rommel Primus and William Bagley — pulled the woman from the tracks, stopped the train and performed emergency medical treatment on her.

The train company honored the heroes by donating $2,000 in each man’s name to the non-profit of their choice. Ray chose to direct his donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter. The money will help to support Alzheimer’s and dementia research as well as free education programs.

“Connor Ray’s actions were nothing short of heroic,” said Christopher Smith, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter. “Six out of 10 people with dementia will wander and when people with dementia wander it can be life threatening.”

Smith said the money will help fund programs to help identify older adults who wander.

“The funds donated in his name will help to support our services including programs that develop strategies to prevent wandering and an ID system that aids in bringing wanderers home safely,” Smith said.