BNSF News

Employee Receives Achievement Award for Fast Action at Vehicle Crash

2008-12-08

BNSF Carman Kurt Gerky recently received a BNSF Achievement Award for helping four senior citizens involved in a highway accident east of Havre, Mont., where he is based.

Gerky, was traveling with his son, Katon, to work in Havre when they noticed a cloud of dirt and debris about a quarter mile down the road. At about the same time, they saw an Amtrak train make a detour onto a nearby siding. Someone got off of the train and ran toward the cloud.

Gerky and his son then realized the “cloud” was a vehicular accident and called 911 for assistance. They and Tom Buffum, the Amtrak conductor from the train, immediately helped the four women get out and away from the vehicle.

The driver told Gerky she had fallen asleep, after which the car apparently veered off the road, crashed through a fence and landed in an irrigation ditch. Although the vehicle went into a spin, it didn’t roll over.

“I don’t how that car stayed on its wheels,” Gerky said.

Fortunately, all of the women were wearing their seatbelts. Two of the women had minor injuries.

“They were very, very lucky,” Gerky said, noting that the car could conceivably have been traveling at the 70-mile-per-hour speed limit, so the crash could have been much worse.

“Gerky stayed on the scene until an ambulance arrived and transported the four women to a medical care facility,” said James Schaff, mechanical foreman I and Gerky’s supervisor. Schaff nominated Gerky for the award. “His actions are truly commendable, and he deserves recognition for what he and his son did.”

The BNSF Achievement Award program, started in 1999, recognizes Team BNSF members who demonstrate BNSF's Vision and Values through initiative, efficiency, timeliness, vigilance, knowledge or innovation beyond normal job requirements. Every BNSF employee is eligible to be nominated for a BNSF Achievement Award. Employees may win more than one award during their careers. For more information about nominating a team or individual for an Achievement Award, click here.

BNSF Headquarters

For more information on the company and its transportation solutions, visit the BNSF Web site at www.bnsf.com