On Tuesday in rural Kossuth County, a Lakota man sprinted toward a burning car and dragged two teenage brothers to safety just seconds after their vehicle was struck by a Union Pacific train, according to county officials. The 16-year-old driver and his 12-year-old brother were airlifted to Rochester, Minnesota, and remain hospitalized after multiple surgeries. The rescuer, identified as Alex Horak, has been credited by the Kossuth County sheriff with saving the boys from what could have been devastating burns.
How the rescue unfolded
Horak said he was driving when he saw a cloud of dust and turned down a gravel road he uses often. There, he watched a 2004 Chevrolet Impala get hit by an eastbound train and burst into flames. He called 911, then waded into the wreckage, pulling both boys out moments before the car was completely engulfed, as reported by WBAL NewsRadio.
Victims flown to Mayo and recovering
Emergency crews airlifted the 16-year-old to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. The 12-year-old was first taken to Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona, then flown to Rochester as well. Both brothers suffered head and upper-body injuries and have undergone multiple surgeries, according to Northwest Iowa Now.
Ethanol cars raised the stakes at the scene
The crash came to a halt just feet from railcars carrying ethanol, a highly flammable liquid that can ramp up fire intensity and make emergency response far more dangerous. Federal agencies have pushed new safety steps for trains that haul flammable energy products in recent years. The Federal Railroad Administration notes that these efforts are meant to cut risks when crashes involve hazardous-material cargo.
Officials praise quick action
Kossuth County Sheriff Roger Fisher publicly praised Horak’s response, saying the Good Samaritan “saved the boys from very critical burns or possibly death.” He added that the sheriff’s office plans a ceremony to honor Horak along with two emergency communications operators, according to WPTZ. The recognition will also highlight the dispatchers whose coordination helped get medical crews rapidly to the scene.
Investigation underway
Multiple agencies responded to the crash, which remains under investigation as officials work to reconstruct how the collision occurred. Union Pacific and county investigators are expected to review the crossing and the sequence of events, local outlets report; KIOW has additional local details.
