ABC News(HOBOKEN, N.J.) — An eyewitness to the horrific crash in a busy train station in Hoboken, New Jersey on Thursday that killed one woman and injured over 100 told ABC News about the harrowing moments following the moment of impact.
Many people fled the scene as the train smashed into the station with such force that it was propelled into the air, sending debris flying and causing the roof to partially collapse, but Rahman Perkins rushed to help those inside.
“When everybody started running out, I started running in,” Perkins told Good Morning America.
“I just saw the train crash into everything. And I just started trying to help whoever I could,” he added.
When asked what made him run in to help, Perkins credited his parents, “they just raised brave kids.”
Perkins found Fabiola Bittar de Kroon, who was not a passenger but was stuck and fatally wounded by falling wreckage caused by the accident. Perkins said he attempted to comfort her as much as possible.
“I knew she was in pain. I was like, ‘Miss, I’m not gonna leave you. I’m not gonna let you — if you’re gonna die, you’re not gonna die by yourself right now. I’m here with you.”
De Kroon was an employee for software company SAP, according to SAP North America Head of Communications Atle Erlingsson. SAP is “profoundly saddened and shaken” by the news of the train crash, said Erlingsson, who also confirmed that de Kroon was an employee with its legal department in Brazil but left the company earlier this year.
“We express our deepest condolences to her family, friends, and all those impacted by today’s tragic event,” Erlingsson said.
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