BURLINGTON CITY - When a stranger threw a 5-year-old girl in front of a light rail train the quick thinking of officers in the area and the mother's boyfriend saved the situation from a much worse ending.

The Burlington City Police Department was alerted to "suspicious activity" in the area of High and Broad Streets, and a 20-year-old woman who matched the description provided was found at the Burlington Town Station.

When the woman, identified as 20-year-old Autumn Matacchiera of Hainesport, saw the officers approaching, she is alleged to have grabbed the girl who she did not know, and thrown her onto the train tracks with a train approaching.

Other officers at the scene were able to help stop the train while the girl was rescued from the tracks suffering only a cut to her face and bruising. Police on the scene were able to take Matacchiera into custody.

She has been charged with attempted murder and was taken to Lourdes Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation. Other agencies involved included the City of Burlington Police Department, Criminal Investigation Division, the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office, Major Crimes Unit, and the New Jersey Transit Police Department.

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Contact reporter Adam Hochron at 609-359-5326 or Adam.Hochron@townsquaremedia.com

 

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