Boise Police Stop Two Runaway Train Cars In City

Boise Police Lt. Mike Webb wasn’t sure what to do with the runaway train after he caught it.

Racing through the city Wednesday evening, he was the first officer to spot the two 60-foot cars.

He caught up near the old train depot south of the Capitol, leaped out of his squad car and jumped aboard. The streets rushed by as Webb clung to the hopper car.

Two miles later, Officer Lance Nickerson leaped on, and the two spent several desperate minutes trying to find a way to stop the cars.

Coached by a Union Pacific Railroad employee via a portable radio, the two crawled around the cars in the search for brakes. Finally, Nickerson spotted a lever on the side of the back car and cranked it to halt the cars without anyone being injured.