by Elizabeth Ruiz
A wounded warrior from the San Antonio area is one of four people killed in a crash involving a train and a parade float in Midland.
Thirty-four-year-old Army Sgt. Joshua Michael of Converse served in Iraq and was a Purple Heart recipient.
A friend of Michael told NBC's "Today Show" he's not surprised by Michael's heroic act right before he died.
"Imagine a train coming at you and what reaction you would have and obviously, Joshua had the reaction of a real man," said Cory Rogers.
Speaking from Lubbock, Rogers said Michael liked to hunt and play drums and guitar.
"Just an all-around American hero, in my opinion," Rogers said.
Michael worked for a realty company in Garden Ridge. He leaves behind a wife and two children. His wife was not hurt in the crash.
Four veterans were killed and more than a dozen others injured when a flatbed trailer carrying wounded veterans was struck by the train .
The National Transportation Safety Board says the train was traveling 62 mph in a 70 mph zone when the crash occured.
Mark Rosekind with NTSB said Friday they would be testing the signals at the railroad crossing.
