Police give good Samaritan $1K to replace stolen backpack

EDISON, N.J. – Police in New Jersey have given $1,000 to the good Samaritan who had his backpack stolen after he leaped onto train tracks to help rescue a co-worker.

The Edison police union presented 34-year-old Anil Vannavalli with a $1,000 check to replace the backpack, which held his laptop computer, headphones and about $200 in cash.

Vannavalli said it was too much money and he would return the difference. Officers told him not to worry about it.

Police say Vannavalli was waiting on the train station platform Friday morning when the woman fainted and fell about 6 feet onto the tracks.

Police say Vannavalli dropped his backpack and jumped on to the tracks to carry the woman to safety, along with two other men, just seconds before a train arrived.