A newly released video shows the dramatic moment an SUV driver narrowly escaped their vehicle just seconds before a Utah Transit Authority (UTA) passenger train crashed into it in Layton, Utah, last week.
The video showed the train barreling down the tracks toward a railroad crossing.
As the train approached the crossing, a white vehicle could be seen partially blocking the track.
"Oh, come on," the train operator said as the train horn steadily blasted from hundreds of yards away.
Unable to stop in time, the locomotive slammed into the vehicle, and a thump was heard from inside the train.
Another view of the crash taken from security cameras nearby showed the driver of the SUV approaching the railroad crossing as the red lights were flashing and the gate arm lowered.
Rather than stop before reaching the gate arm, the white SUV is pushed from behind by a white pickup truck and continues through, nearly clipping the bottom of the gate, and crossing onto the tracks.
The driver then slammed the brakes, coming to a stop with the rear wheels still in between the two rails.
As he sees the oncoming train, the driver immediately puts the vehicle into reverse, but the gate arm refuses to open for the car to pass.
The driver continued to reverse, and in the process, pushed the gate arm back.
When he sees that the gate arm won't open to let him pass, he quickly exits his car and walks away seconds before the train approaches the intersection and smashes into the vehicle, sending it spinning into the gate arm and its post, and completely destroying the front end of the SUV.
KSLTV in Salt Lake City spoke with UTA public information officer Gavin Gustafson, who said everyone was fortunate to have escaped without injuries.
He also told the station that it is easy to watch the video and want the driver to pull forward or reverse and break the arm, though the driver was probably in shock.
"I’m certainly not going to second-guess them in the heat of the moment," Gustafson said. "And sometimes, the view might be blocked by something else, you don’t want to pull forward if there is another train coming."
Still, the station reported that UTA estimates the collision caused over $100,000 in damage to the train.
In the process, the gate and crossing post were damaged, though the latter was reportedly repaired within 24 hours with assistance from the city of Layton.
Watch the video below.
A vehicle pushed onto the tracks after being hit from behind was struck by a train. The driver escaped by jumping out at the last moment.
— Rosa Linda(@rosalinda5901) February 13, 2025
USA / Utah pic.twitter.com/Pzsjy8zxzZ
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