Mayor pulled from path of train
By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), John Rebchook, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published June 16, 2008 at 3:56 p.m.
Updated June 16, 2008 at 3:56 p.m.
Talk about a close call.
Earlier today, Mayor John Hickenlooper escaped injury — or worse — from a fast-moving light-rail train, though the mayor said the incident wasn't as dramatic as it sounds and that he would have seen the train anyway.
The scene unfolded outside the light-rail station at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts about 1:15 p.m.
Hickenlooper said he was being interviewed by NBC Nightly News about FasTracks and public transit in relation to increasing energy costs.
"They wanted to interview me on a train, so we went over to one train, but it was just leaving," Hickenlooper said.
When the northbound D train shut its doors, a witness said the mayor threw up his hands in mock indignation - while standing between the rails.
Then, the TV reporter tapped him on the shoulder and gently guided him back to the platform.
Thank goodness.
A southbound train about a block away was bearing down on him.
"She said, 'Hey, we're not in that kind of a rush,'" Hickenlooper recalled.
The mayor said the train was far away enough that he would have seen it.
On the bright side, Hickenlooper is safe and sound, and the NBC story appears to be positive.
"Basically their question was: 'Denver seems to be way ahead of the nation in this and ... what do other cities have to learn?'" Hickenlooper said.
"Obviously, one thing they have to learn is not to walk in front of trains," the mayor said jokingly.
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June 16, 2008
4:38 p.m.
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Scott writes:
When I read the headline I figured that Hickenloser was looking for spare change along the tracks. Ya know, to help fund the libs lovefest, DNCC. :-)
Scott
June 16, 2008
4:53 p.m.
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Dinty writes:
It must have been a truly slow news day down at RMN.
June 16, 2008
6:06 p.m.
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American100 writes:
Damn
June 16, 2008
6:06 p.m.
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280Pagoda writes:
Political careers are often cut down by that train you didn't see bearing down on you. Glad NBC got our beloved Hick out of the way; hate to lose him before his time.
June 16, 2008
7:33 p.m.
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Jim writes:
Very slow snozzzzze day. Maybe a distraction from the DNC 15 mil. shortfall.
June 16, 2008
8:16 p.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Damn Snidley Whiplash didn't tie him down good enough; is this really news? When he gets hit that'll be news.
June 16, 2008
9:02 p.m.
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jacka writes:
Did NBC talk to the RTD's Kelo victims?
June 16, 2008
9:35 p.m.
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clyde writes:
Where's FEMA???
June 16, 2008
10:50 p.m.
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tmcd writes:
This just in! Someone was almost in a car crash today. The driver escaped a tragic accident only by stopping at the red light. Witnesses say that indeed if the driver had run the red light it would have surely been an accident.