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An accident between a commuter train and an SUV last Thursday could have resulted in catastrophe, but instead the out-of-town-driver and his three passengers got off with a very close shave.
The incident occurred on Jan. 19 at approximately 4:16 p.m. at the East Meadow crossing in Palo Alto. The driver and passengers were from New Jersey and in a rented Cadillac SUV, Caltrain spokeswoman Tasha Bartholomew said Tuesday.
“The vehicle was sitting on the tracks when the gates started to come down. The driver then tried to reverse the SUV but could not do so in time before the train made impact,” she said in an email.
The train clipped the front of the SUV, but the occupants were not injured. The SUV sustained damage to the front bumper and fender, which were sheered off.
About 30,000 passengers were affected by the incident after Transit Police ordered all trains halted through the crossing in both directions. The tracks were reopened in both directions by 4:47 p.m. at reduced speeds and were again fully operational at 5:07 p.m., according to Caltrain.
The driver was probably not familiar with the area, and the accident was most likely caused by the driver’s poor judgment, Bartholomew said. He was cited by police.
A track security guard who witnessed the collision said the driver appeared to be turning right from Alma Street west over the tracks. He could not see the collision because the train blocked his view, but when he ran over to see what happened the occupants were outside of the vehicle and were hugging each other.
He witnesses 20 to 30 cars stuck in the right of way or partially on the tracks every day during his eight-hour shift, said the guard, who asked to remain nameless.
Two cars can fit in the road space between the light at Alma Street and the tracks, but if there are two large trucks or SUVs, then one usually is stuck in the right of way where it could be caught under the crossing gate if a train comes through, he said.
The light at Alma is timed to turn green before a train comes into the intersection to let traffic clear, he said.
Caltrain asks that all motorists and pedestrians take note of crossings and approach cautiously. Drivers should be at least 15 feet away from the tracks to avoid getting stuck, Bartholomew said.
Caltrain reaches speeds of 55 mph with a top speed of 79 mph, even though the trains might seem to be moving slowly. At that speed, a train covers the length of a football field in less than three seconds, according to Caltrain safety guidelines.
Drivers and pedestrians should also beware of a second train.
“When you see the last car of a passing train, don’t cross until you’re sure that no other trains are coming on either track. A train will be through a crossing in less than a minute. It is better to lose one minute in life than your life in one minute,” the agency guidelines note.
Motorists should never drive onto a railroad crossing until they are sure the traffic ahead has left enough space to drive across without getting boxed in. Drivers should not shift gears while driving across the tracks, Caltrain noted.
Anyone whose vehicle is stuck at a train crossing should exit the car, leave the tracks and call 911 or Transit Police at 877-723-7245 to report what happened, Caltrain said.
Additional safety tips from Caltrain can be found here.