Three Minutes to Fort Totten-military chaplain, dr help after dc red line crash

WaPo ^ | 6.28.9

[InvisibleChurch]

A chaplain from Walter Reed. A doctor from Walter Reed. The owner of a new hair salon. An architect. On a Metro train, in one terrifying instant and its aftermath, their lives became forever intertwined. This is their story.

He heard the familiar whine of a Metro train approaching the platform, and Tom Baker decided to run for it. The next train was scheduled to arrive at Takoma Station in two minutes, another in six minutes and yet another in 10. But it was the first Monday of summer, and Baker had left work early with a weightlifting routine to complete and an overgrown garden to tend. A doctor at Walter Reed with an emergency pager affixed to his waist, Baker had learned to schedule and protect every minute of his free time. This was his train.

[InvisibleChurch]

The chaplain leaned over, his face inches from the top of the debris, and spoke into the darkness. He said the first thing that came to his mind.

"We can pray," he said.

"Okay," she said.

[George from New England]

Link to page one:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/27/AR2009062702417.html?sid=ST2009062702498

[InvisibleChurch]

oops, sorry ... thanks

[George from New England]

Very well written and picturesque story. Sad as well.