Train problems left boy, 3, alone

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Oregon transportation officials said they were investigating after a 3-year-old boy was stranded briefly at a train station when separated from his father.

Aaron Bailey said he was riding the Green Line of Portland's Metropolitan Area Express train system Thursday when his son, Aiden, accidentally hit the disabled access ramp button while getting off the train at the Main Street station, The (Portland) Oregonian reported Friday.

Bailey said the button caused the door to close before he could follow his son off the train and his attempts to open it failed. He said hitting the car's emergency intercom failed to elicit a response from the driver and the train pulled away.

The father said he got off the train at the next stop and demanded answers, but the driver pulled away with the train. He returned to the Main Street stop 7 minutes after the train left and found Aiden with a woman who had witnessed the door problem.

TriMet, which operates Portland's trains, said the train had mechanical problems with its door and intercom system.