A driver in Layton, Utah, had a close call with a train after their car was rear-ended and shoved onto the tracks, narrowly avoiding a collision.
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At approximately 2:45 p.m. on Feb. 4, a car stopped at a FrontRunner crossing on Hill Field Road was struck from behind, forcing it onto the train tracks, according to Utah Transit Authority spokesman Gavin Gustafson, per local outlet KSL 5.
The driver couldn’t reverse because a car was blocking the way. However, they managed to exit the vehicle just before the train collided with it.
Harrowing footage from the moments found its way to Instagram.
The footage reveals the driver struggling to manuver their vehicle off the tracks. While they manage to back up some, the front remains hanging over the tracks. Defeated, the driver gets out of their vehicle. Moments later, the train rolls through, shattering the automobile into pieces.
Onlookers Critique the Driver’s Actions Moments Before a Train Destroyed Their Vehicle
Of course, armchair experts raced to the comments to weigh in on what the driver should have done.
“And you couldn’t drive forward because….???” one Instagram denizen wondered. “[They] could of just made a U-turn,” another onlooker suggested. “Don’t understand people’s logic sometimes,” a third onlooker who is always cool under pressure chimed in.
However, one internet knight gallantly defended the honor of the driver.
“Amazing how many people are quick to judge without realizing the driver was rear-ended and thrown onto the tracks,” the passionate Instagram user wrote.
“The real responsibility starts with the person who hit them in the first place. With only seconds to react, the driver had two choices—risk getting stuck trying to move a possibly damaged car or save their own life. A train hitting a car is catastrophic for the car but barely a bump for the train. If you think you’d handle it better under that kind of pressure, congrats on your imaginary heroism. Reality doesn’t work that way,” they added.
According to Layton police, no injuries were reported on the train or in either vehicle involved. The car on the tracks sustained significant damage, and the collision also left the crossing arms and lights destroyed.
The train service was temporarily halted as crews worked on cleanup efforts. According to UTA, a bus bridge was set up to connect Layton and Clearfield, while passengers traveling southbound from Clearfield to North Temple in Salt Lake City were advised to anticipate delays.