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Close Call: SUV Driver Escapes Seconds Before Train Collision in Layton, Utah
Recently released footage has documented a dramatic incident in Layton, Utah, where the driver of an SUV narrowly escaped moments before their vehicle was struck by a Utah Transit Authority (UTA) passenger train. The event took place on February 4, 2025, at a railroad crossing.
Video sourced from within the train shows the locomotive rapidly approaching the crossing as a white SUV obstructs the track. As the train’s horn blared from a distance, the operator expressed concern about the impending situation, urging, “Oh, come on,” as the vehicle remained stationary.
In the immediate lead-up to the collision, the SUV was seen near the crossing where the red warning lights were flashing and the gate arm was lowered. Rather than halting, the vehicle, pushed forward by a white pickup truck from behind, crossed onto the tracks, nearly grazing the bottom of the lowered gate arm.
Following this, the driver applied their brakes, managing to halt the SUV with its rear wheels still on the tracks. Subsequently, the driver shifted into reverse, striking the gate arm and positioning the vehicle in a precarious spot where the front wheels obstructed part of the tracks.
Despite the hazardous scenario, the driver decided to continue reversing, inadvertently pushing the gate arm backward before exiting the car and walking away moments before the train entered the intersection. The collision resulted in the SUV being violently spun and the front end severely damaged as it collided with the gate arm and its post.
In an interview with KSLTV in Salt Lake City, UTA public information officer Gavin Gustafson remarked on the fortunate outcome, stating that all individuals involved escaped without injury. He emphasized the difficulty of making swift decisions in such high-pressure situations, suggesting that the driver may have been in shock during the incident. “I’m certainly not going to second-guess them in the heat of the moment,” Gustafson noted, adding that visibility could have been obstructed, affecting the driver’s judgment.
Moreover, UTA estimated that the accident resulted in over $100,000 worth of damage to the train itself. The gate and crossing post were also impacted, although reports indicated that repairs to the crossing post were completed within 24 hours, with support from local authorities in Layton.
As authorities review the situation, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of alertness at railroad crossings and the potential life-threatening scenarios that can arise from seemingly minor distractions or misjudgments on the road.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify that the SUV was pushed from behind, compelling it over the tracks, correcting earlier reports that indicated the driver failed to stop.
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