Mom says boyfriend pushed California teen away from oncoming train before he was struck
3/24/2014MARYSVILLE, Calif. — Witnesses and family members say a Northern California teen pushed his girlfriend away from the path of an oncoming train before he was struck and killed.
The girlfriend, 16-year-old Mickayla Friend, was still grazed and critically injured, though her mother, Sandy, said at a vigil Sunday that she was breathing on her own and walking.
Mickayla and her boyfriend, 16-year-old Mateus Moore, were heading to a school dance Friday night in Marysville when they were struck by the Union Pacific freight train.
According to the Appeal-Democrat of Marysville, Sandy Friend said Mickayla told her Mateus pushed her as hard as he could. Witnesses to the train strike said Mateus’ actions prevented Mickayla from being run over as well.
Police are looking into whether the teens were distracted.