People ask why I stop at all RR crossings, gates or not gates.. This is why.. I have seen an accident like this one happen in front of me, its a very sad and humbling experience.
My dad is lucky Last year on Christmas Eve in Canada, it wasn’t a (Train accident) A guy speeded in his car 70 MPH Per Minutes because he was inpatient During traffic.
wow. that is so sad... but i just cant understand how someone could get hit. if the train's coming, dont cross. if it's clear, get across and off the tracks! pretty basic.
Wow that is scary.....all crossings should be protected, but at the same time as a driver you have to stop, look, and listen both ways even if it is a protected crossing.....crossing gates can malfunction just like any other technology there is.....my thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the individual who passed
As someone that comes from an Amtrak family, it takes the trains about a mile to stop. In that region of the country, Amtrak does NOT own the rails. That could be in an area owned by freight or by Florida Tri-rail. The lesson here is, when an Amtrak engine is hauling ass like that it’s not gonna stop on a dime AND anything in the path is getting destroyed
I live near Toronto, Canada. Two days ago in Brampton, Ontario, a car driven by a 56 yr old woman went thru a level crossing with the red lights flashing and got smoked by a 6 car freight train doing 60mph. She is dead and the 95 yr old male passenger is in Hospital. There is just no excuse for these collisions. Regarding this crash in Florida, I don't understand why this crossing is not marked with lights and gates, when there are high speed trains using this line.
+TFSFireman This is not a high speed rail; this is standard speed. Most rail in the United States is classified as standard speed with a top speed of 79 mph. Where I live, frequently cars will go faster than this at up to 84 mph. High Speed rail is rail that has a top speed of 124 mph; you will only see this is some locations in the northeast United States. In addition, the Federal Railroad Administration is developing new regulations that will allow grade-separated track to run up to 199 mph; these will come into operation during the 2020s. Especially in the western United States, the horizon is visible for miles. In these locations, gates are not present because the amount of benefit they would bring is not worth the expense. Even at 124 mph, a train would easily be visible for at least a minute before passing the crossing.
How much do you wanna bet it was an idiot not paying attention, probably screwing around on their phone or something. I know it's bad to speak ill of the dead, but c-mon?!?
+Kai Henningsen I don't know about in the US, but I'm a traffic collision investigator in the UK and every collision I investigate the use of mobile phones by people in the vehicles will be investigated. Obviously it's an clear path to take if a phone is present in a vehicle and in an active state when it is recovered, but in a case such as this the evidence will be less clear as the phone may have been ejected from the vehicle upon impact or burned by the post-impact fire if it remained within the vehicle. Nonetheless, call and message data is still available from the network providers even if the phone has been destroyed, so if you're driving and using your phone and are involved in a collision, even if both you and your phone are annihilated the data is still present to prove what you were doing...
Buses actually have to do that by law, they must stop, look, open the door and listen before they can cross railroads. Honestly it should be a law for every motor vehicle for the simple fact that even gates/lights can malfunction which probably 90% of the population relies on.
Prepper Unfortunately about a third of the population will drive through a railroad crossing with lights on. Even with gates I've seen plenty of people go around them at which point frankly they deserve whatever they have coming although it indangers the safety of the train crews and potentially could be harmful if dangerous cargos are spilled in a derailment. No matter what we do you'll never fix stupid.
You should definitely work in broadcast news or something like that: EXCELLENT coverage, got all the significant details in, and delivered the news with bona fide class. You, sir, are a good egg.
Mr. Smith thank you for making videos like this. My dad was an Train Engineer in the 1940's He was one of the last Engineers of the Steam Locomotives. He went to work as an Electrician after that and spent the next 30 yrs working for Goodyear. My parents were strict about the train tracks, we couldn't go near them with our bicycles EVER. My dad taught us about the signals because when we were kids and learning to drive there were 2 or more sets of tracks and you had to be aware of what way the train was coming.....Now having the single set of tracks is safer of course, but people still try to beat trains. They don't realize that Train Engines for freight trains weigh TONS...( I think it's 62 TONS...not sure though)...and it takes a train at least 1/2-1 mile to STOP.....they can't stop on a dime.
I've been on the platform with my children when a freight train passed and a bullet train, you can hear them rumbling for about 2 minutes before you see them fly by. 😮🚅🛤🚞
I just saw this video and immediately recognized the place. This happened almost in front of my uncle’s house, you’re standing in his neighbor’s driveway. My parents at the time were visiting my grandmother who also lives in Dover, and my uncle’s wife called and was hysterical over what had just happened. This was quite a surprise for me to come across this video, I had no idea you were here and caught the aftermath of this crash.
When you said "The car exploded into flames" and I'm looking at the results for the leading locomotive...I thought damage for the locomotive could've been worst
one thing alot of people don't think about, and don't even consider...... The Engineer. What he has to live with for the rest of his days. He can't stop quick enough, if at all, to avoid this. My thoughts and prayers would be towards him, even now, 3 years later.
My maternal grandparents were killed by a train back in the 1940's when they still had steam locomotives. If it hadn't been for that crash my mother never would have been adopted, her adoptive mother never would have moved to the state where I live and married the man I knew as my maternal grandfather and my mother never would have met my father. I exist because of a car/train accident.
The dude sounds like the action news reporter who gives the news and all the news from every news source when the news is making the news. And now, live to our onsite news reporter.
Sweet merciful Jesus!!!! Prayers to the family permanently damaged by this horrible tragedy. Alan...just a few weeks back I was at the Halls Mill Rd RR Track(CSX Freightline) if youre not familiar...I believe you mayve visited this line a while back in one of your old videos. Line goes east to west but is blocked off towards Belmar and spurs off a bit towards Manalapan/Englishtown. Anyway....the line is dead most of the time as far as freight traffic but I gotta admit..the day I had to yield to this track longer than normal was really terrifying! Long story short at 445pm on this day Im speaking of I was traveling north bound up Halls Mill Rd(Freehold NJ heading towards 33 east business route in my school bus) did my routine RR track check(like all school bus drivers do) stopped looked listened looked right then left and BAM! The CSX freight comin right at the crossing from my left(the west)mind you I have to stay put by law,all the other cars who didnt want to wait the train out went around me or flew right by me to my left! Meanwhile you can clearly see hes movin slowly up the track from the left!!!! Bright light and all! I even opened up my window and pointed to the left as people passing by blew their horns at me as if to ask"why I was in their way!!!" One by one each car flew over the tracks as I watched in fear!!!! Finally the train blares out this long dragged out horn of his and those who did stop when I extended my arm out the window then pointed westward the last car stopped along side me the reds at the crossing came on and only then...THATS WHEN EVERYONE STOPPED TO GIVE HIM THE RIGHT OF WAY HE RESPECTFULLY OWNED. Just because a line may not have gates or bells or high tech equipment doesnt mean it shouldnt be takin seriously. Passive or highly active...all should be respected at all times and always assume a train maybe near! I was a bit afraid for a moment someone was sure gonna get bowled over! Always be aware and not learn the hard way like this!
When I was about 5 years old, my great grandfather and great Aunt were in a car that broke down on the tracks that runs through the little Ga.town of Hahira. The train did not blow its whistle and hit the car. My Aunt had been sitting with her hands on her knees, both hands and legs were cut off, my great grandfather had a gallon jug of glass slivers taken out of his chest. Both died instantanly. After hearing the details in the car going home from funeral, I do not like red roses. Red roses bring bad memories.
As a result of that, my family does not give me red roses. Any other color is OK. it has been many years since that accident but I still remember the remarks made about the roses, how red they were and how so many of them were there.
Thier car stalled onthe tracks just as the train was entering the crossing. They didn't have time to get out of the car. this happened in 1965 so preventative measures had been taken to prevent this from happening.
No human is 100% attentive at all times. You only have to be stupid for one second, and you get no credit for being smart all the rest of the time. However, there is no excuse for our computers and computing devices being stupid. They could easily track their locations and the locations of all trains and vehicles around them, and sound a loud warning when danger is imminent.
Daniel Mocsny You’re joking, right? You’re blaming this on there not existing some kind of system that alerts you whenever any train and vehicle is nearby? That would be almost impossible to create, but if you want to, by all means go ahead
Millenniumforce hello alan you are look really great. you sir are a bless man. keep those awesome video's coming sir. and take your time to with them to. get well my friend.
RIP to the person who died. Stop Look and Listen. The person car might of stalled on the tracks. If your car stalls on the tracks, get out and get as far away from the area. Hey millenniumforce good luck with the recovery.
That is certainly scary. In a recent amtrak video I posted, An Idiot sped right across the tracks as the gates we're going down. It makes me angry when people do that. My drivers ed teacher talked about a train that hit a car and chopped the car in half. He said a newborn baby and his mother died.
Mr. Alan Smith, I had a high school internship 5 years ago with my local commuter rail and I must say the whole scene in your video is scary, this reminded me of how was in the cab of the Caltrain. You need a good field of vision to drive a train
+Freedomtowerman Productions Same here Vinny feel sad for both the drivers family and the amtrak train crew having to see death. And i agree 100% there needs to be a gated crossing.
no mercy for assholes. I was a railroader my whole career. a signalman and a freight conductor. DONT STOP ON THE TRACKS. simple as that. win lose or tie...you lose every time.
At railroad crossings that don't have neither lights, gates, nor bells, but just a regular crossbuck sign, before crossing over the tracks to the other side you must first stop, the second thing you must do is look both ways for any oncoming trains, & third is listen for any train sounds to make sure its safe to cross before doing so!
in Nebraska there are 100s of crossings with just X signs but I stop, look both ways & THEN go I don't even trust ones with bells & lights but no gates I stop at those too
My dad told me a story where he was on a passenger train going from Houston to Austin in the late 40's. Dad was just a boy and remembers the train coming to a sudden stop. The train had hit a car with a family of three. Both adults (parents) were killed and the police put the young boy on the train to take him to Austin where he had other family. As the train started rolling dad remembers seeing the wrecked car with police and firemen around it. The boy from the car appeared to look in shock
Sad to see, tragic for those involved. Your video reminds all of us who cross tracks, guarded or not, to look and listen every time. You look better today Smith.
Several years ago a woman that worked in the same factory as my husband was stopped at a railroad crossing where it was hard to see coming from that direction because of houses close to the track. She had her windows up and her music blaring, and she started forward. The people waiting on the other side of the tracks were waving frantically to stop her...but she just thought they were being friendly and waved back and drove onto the tracks. Fortunately the train was not going at full speed and she was not fully on the tracks at impact. It destroyed the front end of her car..another few seconds and it would have been a different story.
I remember I was on the Sunset Limited train no. 2 with my grandmother a few years ago and we hit a car in Tornillo, Texas just outside of San Antonio at like 80 mph and killed the woman in it we were there in Tornillo for like 8 hours, P42 no 5 was leading and no 14 trailing.
I hate seeing accidents that were 100% avoidable (assuming nothing was wrong with the car before impact). inattentive driving is the most sure-fire way to get killed/kill others. Pay attention everyone and drive safely!!!!
People just do not pay attention at unmarked crossings anymore. I grew up in the country near a branch line which ran two trains a day, and none were marked, except in the villages, with anything but the crossbuck sign. It was just second nature to slow down, look and listen since it was the only way to tell if a train were coming. Seems more and more that people are either in a hurry or just not watching on every crossing, marked with lights or not.
I've not seen a train hit a car before but I've seen a stolen vehicle hit another car on the highway going 80 mph It was less than 5 feet in front of our truck Nobody was hurt except for the car
I remember Alan saying in multiple PSAs over the years that one day this would probably happen: he would witness an accident. I don't mean to be disrespectful of the tragedy but did you record video of it occurring?
A terrible price to pay for not paying attention, or thinking you can beat a moving train...at 80 mph, that train was traveling 117 feet per second ....
Hi, Allen! Wow Allen, that's a horrible crash. I saw the impact of a amtrak train silver star 92 that crashed into a car. I see lots of pieces everywhere.
Millenniumforce, I saw a battery. It flew away. The battery is big. I can see the amtrak train silver star 92 that stopped. This impact happened aftermath.
Unfortunately, sometimes the train loses, too. It's rare, but it happens - there are several videos on RU-vid of events like that. Depends mostly on what kind of vehicle it is. There is one with many videos where I think it was some sort of dump truck; train derailed and I think a tank car exploded. There was a big fire and serious damage to surroundings.
+Kai Henningsen The train will always "win" in a collision with a road vehicle, however depending on the nature of the collision, debris can get between the train wheels and the track and result in derailment which can have horrific effects. From an investigation point of view, it isn't the initial collision that causes the derailment, the derailment is a subsequent event caused by deposition of debris, i.e. the collision and derailment are individual incidents that are linked rather than being part of the same event...
I would imagine that lead engine would have to be immediately withdrawn from service due to the risk of the fire or debris from the car damaging safety-critical components under the engine. That was one hell of an impact...
You have decent videos. I started watching you a year ago, like jaw tooth, you have improved over the months. Same with your quality, god was it bad. Oh, the wreck, JESUS THATS BAD!! The worst we had was 425 ramming that runaway Ford Explorer,but nothing like this.
It does not matter your age or vehicle, if you are approaching railroad tracks in any form....whether marked with crossing arms or sirens.....PAY ATTENTION, LOOK, AND LISTEN....YOU can avoid it.
Back when I was a kid in the sixties there was a train/car collision on the old MKT in west Houston. Fortunately nobody got killed but the engineer of the Baldwin diesel said he never felt it when the train hit the car. If you look at the total destruction of the car vs the locomotives minimal damage says something for itself. The inertial energy upon impact had to be tremendous. Also, it really was a Baldwin the had been rebuilt by EMD that looked really strange.
Was the driver trying to beat the train and miscalculated? It's a little hard to miss a huge train like that unless you fell asleep driving or something!
The sad thing is is that almost all railroad accidents are preventable with either common sense or better maintenance or better crew training and better safety Technology And I’m not just talking about trains vs vehicles I’m talking about derailments as well I mean just a tiny bit of common sense would have prevented this
