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  • Must have been important deliveries

    The road I take to get home runs parrallel to the railroad tracks in the area. There are a lot of streets that cross over connecting the two roads on either side.

    The other day I was coming home from the grocery store. I was stopped at a red light, wanting to turn left. But, when a train is coming, all traffic on my side is haulted because the train is coming. Across the street, a giant semi is inching towards the intersection. Between him and the intersection is the railroad crossing. There isn't a train coming while he is waiting, but the light is red and if he were to wait just behind the line, the train tracks would be right under him. He decides to make a right turn and just go for it......right as the arms for the train start coming down. This guy decides that he's going for it though and starts trying to make it underneath the crossing arms.

    I'm staring in amazement as the semi gets caught on the crossing arms. The cab made it through, but not his load. The arms are stuck on the truck. He keeps pushing. As he's struggling with the arm, you can hear the train whistle. It's at this point I wished I had brought my camera, just so there would be proof of what happened afterwards.

    Somehow, the truck driver lucks out and the crossing arms pop up over his truck for a moment, allowing him to get through without breaking them. He drives right through the intersection, making a right turn, without stopping at the light. I'm in complete shock. Luckily, there was nothing damaged or lost (except some of my faith in humanity.)

  • #2
    Happens ALL the time...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q50hO...eature=related
    There's no such thing as a stupid question... just stupid people.

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    • #3
      Ok, just how hard is it to spot a bright pink train coming at you? >.<

      There are dozens of rather impressive videos of semi drivers completely failing to deal properly with level crossings all over YouTube.

      ^-.-^
      Faith is about what you do. It's about aspiring to be better and nobler and kinder than you are. It's about making sacrifices for the good of others. - Dresden

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      • #4
        Well, once you've already gotten caught on the arm, you're *not* going to wait for the light!
        Now the trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed.

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        • #5
          You know, if I were caught on a crossing arm, I'd break that sucker right off backing away from the tracks. The insurance nightmare from that versus actually being hit by the train would be insignificant.

          ^-.-^
          Faith is about what you do. It's about aspiring to be better and nobler and kinder than you are. It's about making sacrifices for the good of others. - Dresden

          Comment


          • #6
            Train vs. vehicle collisions happen all the time here in south Florida - so many bad intersections (and the commuter lines parallel route 95 - one of the main north/south highways). The freight rails parallel Dixie Highway here, too (not a real highway).

            Atlantic Avenue and Cypress Creek Blvd are the worst intersections. There was a really bad accident years ago (1990s?) where a commuter train hit a truck hauling propane.

            This one happened at Atlantic Blvd, the occupants of the car did get out and no one was hurt (other than rattled nerves and high levels of frustration):



            I just think the picture is great - obviously they ignored the signs.
            Quote Dalesys:
            ... as in "Ifn thet dawg comes at me, Ima gonna shutz ma panz!"

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            • #7
              when i was in drivers ed, our teacher ended each class with videos of car wrecks, mostly on train tracks. it took me a good 3 years to not be terrified of tracks
              If you want to be happy, be. ~Leo Tolstoy

              i'm on fb and xbox live; pm me if ya wanna be "friends"
              ^_^

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              • #8
                This video will show you exactly what happens when a single engine hits a car.

                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekpD06P7kiI&feature=fvsr
                A PSA, if I may, as well as another.

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                • #9
                  Geeze, that must've been a mess to clean up, and i'm astounded they were allowed to do that, but then considering the double decker test i saw, they do seem quite willing to do things like this if its for a good reason.

                  As to the truck running the tracks, there can be so many reasons from lack of visibility, mis-judging distance, to being in a hurry (consider that the pay isn't all that good with many questions, deadlines can be tight, and regs can make it difficult to complete it without violating the rules). Its stupid, but it happens.
                  Seph
                  Taur10
                  "You're supposed to be the head of covert intelligence. Right now, I'm not seeing a hell of a lot of intelligence. Covert, overt, or otherwise!"-Lochley, B5, A View from the Gallery

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                  • #10
                    I saw this happen not long ago - but the truck driver BROKE the arm,and left it lying across the road. I had to get out and help another lady move it to the side of the road so that we could pass.
                    The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away.

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                    • #11
                      One of my favorites...

                      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfKzO...eature=related

                      What? The trailer was like that when i got it.

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                      • #12
                        That's one of my faves, too. I particularly like how the SUV sees what's about to happen and starts backing away from the crossing.

                        They still got clipped by a chunk of the trailer, however.

                        ^-.-^
                        Faith is about what you do. It's about aspiring to be better and nobler and kinder than you are. It's about making sacrifices for the good of others. - Dresden

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Quoth Andara Bledin View Post
                          That's one of my faves, too. I particularly like how the SUV sees what's about to happen and starts backing away from the crossing.

                          They still got clipped by a chunk of the trailer, however.

                          ^-.-^
                          I was thinking the same thing and I hope the driver of the truck was caught. I'm sure these accidents (well, I'd hate to call them accidents because they are not accidental) also cause some damage to the trains - I bet their insurance company wasn't happy!
                          Quote Dalesys:
                          ... as in "Ifn thet dawg comes at me, Ima gonna shutz ma panz!"

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Quoth mattm04 View Post
                            One of my favorites...

                            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfKzO...eature=related

                            What? The trailer was like that when i got it.
                            Heh, that was amusing, but i'm not sure you can blame that one on the driver, it didn't seem that there were any guards, and i'm not sure about warning lights either, but then the video quality isn't the best either.
                            Seph
                            Taur10
                            "You're supposed to be the head of covert intelligence. Right now, I'm not seeing a hell of a lot of intelligence. Covert, overt, or otherwise!"-Lochley, B5, A View from the Gallery

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Quoth Javarod View Post
                              Heh, that was amusing, but i'm not sure you can blame that one on the driver, it didn't seem that there were any guards, and i'm not sure about warning lights either, but then the video quality isn't the best either.
                              The van was stopped - they knew the train was coming.
                              Quote Dalesys:
                              ... as in "Ifn thet dawg comes at me, Ima gonna shutz ma panz!"

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