A 16-year-old boy has been called a hero for reportedly sacrificing himself to save his girlfriend from an oncoming train.
"When I got to know Mateus I realized he was a gentle giant."
Family and friends in Marysville, California are remembering Mateus Moore — the boyfriend of Mickayla Friend. (Via KXTV)
Mickayla's mom told KXTV, her daughter and Mateus were going to a school dance Friday night and had passed along the railroad tracks on their way to first pick up some food.
A spokesperson for Union Pacific Railroad Company said the train engineer had spotted the teens in the distance and sounded his horn — giving them plenty of time to get off the tracks. He also reportedly tried stopping the train, but it was too late. (Via Marysville Appeal-Democrat)
Mateus died at the scene and Mickayla was airlifted to a hospital. She's now in the ICU with serious injuries, including broken bones and bleeding in the brain. Mickayla told her mom she would not have survived had Mateus not put his life before hers.
SANDY FRIEND: “I remember Mateus turning and looking back. And I turned and looked back. I remember him pushing me out of the way of the train.” (Via KTXL)
Union Pacific Railroad Company and local police are investigating the incident. The school says it will provide grief counseling for the teens' classmates.
