NYC - 'Numerous' fatalities in train collision, fire

[ScarlettScarpetta]

She had time to back up. It would have been faster to back up than to get out of the car. And a lot safer for people on the train. So I really don't understand why she should have walked away from the car potentially endangering people on the train instead of backing up not endangering anybody. Her car wasn't stalled.

She was freaked out. The bar came down on the car and then over the back according to the witness I saw on the news. She should have just gotten out and stayed out. Her pulling forward did more damage to the train and killed her.

 

[jjenny]

She was freaked out. The bar came down on the car and then over the back according to the witness I saw on the news. She should have just gotten out and stayed out. Her pulling forward did more damage to the train and killed her.

She certainly did more damage to the train by pulling forward. But I don't see how getting out of the operational car and leaving it would be a responsible thing to do, when one can simply back it up a bit to be safe for everyone. Bar coming down on the car would not prevent the car from backing up. These bars are designed to be easily broken. And if the train did hit the front end of her car, and derailed, she could still have been hurt if she were outside, because how far could she have walked away from the car in 30 seconds?

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

She certainly did more damage to the train by pulling forward. But I don't see how getting out of the operational car and leaving it would be a responsible thing to do, when one can simply back it up a bit to be safe for everyone. Bar coming down on the car would not prevent the car from backing up. These bars are designed to be easily broken. And if the train did hit the front end of her car, and derailed, she could still have been hurt if she were outside, because how far could she have walked away from the car in 30 seconds?

The gates were already down the train was coming fast. Once the gates are down get out and run toward the coming train along the side to stay clear of debris is the recommendation.

She was clearly confused and made a bad choice. Had she just gotten out and stayed out and went back to the car of the guy who was telling her to come to his car, she would not have been killed and most likely the damage to the train would have been less. IT could have been a less involved wreck.

IT is sad.

 

[jjenny]

The gates were already down the train was coming fast. Once the gates are down get out and run toward the coming train along the side to stay clear of debris is the recommendation.

She was clearly confused and made a bad choice. Had she just gotten out and stayed out and went back to the car of the guy who was telling her to come to his car, she would not have been killed and most likely the damage to the train would have been less. IT could have been a less involved wreck.

IT is sad.

The guy was gesturing her to back her car up, not to come to his car. He backed up his car to leave her room to back up. It could have been no wreck at all if she backed up the car. And I would like to see that recommendation. Who recommends abandoning car on the tracks, getting out and running toward the train? If you have time to get out of the car and run, you certainly have time to back the car up.
The only way that recommendation makes sense is if the car is stalled. Her car was not stalled.

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

The guy was gesturing her to back her car up, not to come to his car. He backed up his car to leave her room to back up. It could have been no wreck at all if she backed up the car. And I would like to see that recommendation. Who recommends abandoning car on the tracks, getting out and running toward the train? If you have time to get out of the car and run, you certainly have time to back the car up.

IT hit the top and slid down the back of her car.

She got out and looked at the arm.

And then got back in the car and moved forward. She probably felt she could not move back with the gate there. I would have probably thought the same thing. I would not have gotten back in the car.

 

[jjenny]

IT hit the top and slid down the back of her car.

She got out and looked at the arm.

And then got back in the car and moved forward. She probably felt she could not move back with the gate there. I would have probably thought the same thing. I would not have gotten back in the car.

The gate is designed to be broken easily. I could certainly figure that if I drive my car through the gate, the gate is going to break. It's not rocket science. The arm is a narrow strip of wood designed to easily break so the car doesn't become trapped if needed to back up.

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

The gate is designed to be broken easily. I could certainly figure that if I drive my car through the gate, the gate is going to break. It's not rocket science. The arm is a narrow strip of wood designed to easily break so the car doesn't become trapped if needed to back up.

In the moment you are not thinking that. I have been watching tv for days about this and most all of the reporters say that when your car is stuck between gates you get out and run in the direction of the train and call 911.
The problem was they were inching in traffic. not just driving at a good pace where she could have kept going. The gates came down and she was stuck there until the car in front of her moved.

 

[jjenny]

In the moment you are not thinking that. I have been watching tv for days about this and most all of the reporters say that when your car is stuck between gates you get out and run in the direction of the train and call 911.
The problem was they were inching in traffic. not just driving at a good pace where she could have kept going. The gates came down and she was stuck there until the car in front of her moved.

If the car is stuck it makes sense to get out. Her car was not stuck. It was operational.

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

If the car is stuck it makes sense to get out. Her car was not stuck. It was operational.

IT was stuck by the gate. Her only choice was forward when she saw the gate down on the back of her car. IT is just a shame she did not stay out of the car.

 

[jjenny]

IT was stuck by the gate. Her only choice was forward when she saw the gate down on the back of her car. IT is just a shame she did not stay out of the car.

It wasn't stuck by the gate. Again, the arm is designed to be easily broken. It wasn't her only choice to move forward. And if she was going to move forward, she should have done so right away without getting out of the car. She could have easily backed the car up. These arms are not designed to stall the car.

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

It wasn't stuck by the gate. Again, the arm is designed to be easily broken. It wasn't her only choice to move forward. And if she was going to move forward, she should have done so right away without getting out of the car. She could have easily backed the car up. These arms are not designed to stall the car.

IT was as far as she was concerned. The bar went on the top and then over the back of the car. So she was stuck there at the gate.
You are talking best case scenario.. I am talking about in the circumstances in that moment.

She could not have easily backed up. Not in her mind. Not probably in most people's mind. That bar was laying across the top back of her car.

 

[jjenny]

IT was as far as she was concerned. The bar went on the top and then over the back of the car. So she was stuck there at the gate.
You are talking best case scenario.. I am talking about in the circumstances in that moment.

She could not have easily backed up. Not in her mind. Not probably in most people's mind. That bar was laying across the top back of her car.

Are you really suggesting that it's impossible to figure out that a bar made of a narrow piece of wood is going to break if an SUV drives through it?

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

Are you really suggesting that it's impossible to figure out that a bar made of a narrow piece of wood is going to break if an SUV drives through it?

Yes I am. I have no idea what they are made of. the ones near me look like heavy wood. I would not assume that I could get through it.

What matters most is what she thought. To me the evidence shows she did not think she could get past it by backing up.

 

[Trident]

IT was as far as she was concerned. The bar went on the top and then over the back of the car. So she was stuck there at the gate.
You are talking best case scenario.. I am talking about in the circumstances in that moment.

She could not have easily backed up. Not in her mind. Not probably in most people's mind. That bar was laying across the top back of her car.

Please, do not put "most people" in the category of not knowing a piece of wood would break when hit by a car. Anyone that clueless does not need to be driving a car.

:cow:

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

Please, do not put "most people" in the category of not knowing a piece of wood would break when hit by a car. Anyone that clueless does not need to be driving a car.

:cow:

Nice.

The point is that in that moment you start to try and process so many things at once. The boards are held by metal arms. I would not think that just backing up would break them when they were laying on my car.. Crashing through.. Sure but just pushing back? I don't know and I bet she did not either.

 

[Trident]

Nice.

The point is that in that moment you start to try and process so many things at once. The boards are held by metal arms. I would not think that just backing up would break them when they were laying on my car.. Crashing through.. Sure but just pushing back? I don't know and I bet she did not either.

Try to figure it out - it may save your life some day. I've seen several crashes, and almost crashes with trains. The wooden barriers always break. It's not like the railroad is trying to put anyone in a cage to get crushed.

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

Try to figure it out - it may save your life some day. I've seen several crashes, and almost crashes with trains. The wooden barriers always break. It's not like the railroad is trying to put anyone in a cage to get crushed.

It is different if you are driving through but with it stuck on the back of your car and pushing at it,it is not going to work the same.

For me the point here is had she just gotten out of the car and not moved at all she would be here and most likely the damage to the train would not have been as severe and possibly less or no fatalities.
The experts have been saying all week, Just get out and run toward the train. That is the best way to make sure you are safe.

 

[MsFacetious]

I have had a crossing arm come down on my vehicle before.
It was an odd location for one, since I wasn't on any train tracks.
But they apparently put a crossing arm on the road before the train tracks... to prevent someone from turning onto them?
I don't know, it was very odd and you couldn't tell the arm was there until it came down on you.

Anyway, I looked around to make sure I wasn't sitting on any tracks.
Before I established I was not, I considered driving away.
It was on the cab of the truck, so it likely would have scratched the top of the truck had I moved.
I don't know if it would have broken or not just because of where it was sitting.

However, if it had landed on the hood of the truck, I knew driving forward WOULD break it.
If it had landed on the bed of the truck, I knew driving backwards WOULD break it.

"Heavy wood" is NO match for a 3,000 pound vehicle (or more, that's a low estimate.)
Cars drive through buildings, crush other cars and take out telephone poles.

It is absolutely common sense that a railroad crossing arm will break if hit by a vehicle.
I just asked my 11 year old and she said "Mom, don't you know those are SUPPOSED to break if they are hit." :twocents:

 

[jjenny]

Try to figure it out - it may save your life some day. I've seen several crashes, and almost crashes with trains. The wooden barriers always break. It's not like the railroad is trying to put anyone in a cage to get crushed.

Exactly. They are designed to break. If somebody can't figure that out, then they shouldn't be driving.

 

[jjenny]

It is different if you are driving through but with it stuck on the back of your car and pushing at it,it is not going to work the same.

For me the point here is had she just gotten out of the car and not moved at all she would be here and most likely the damage to the train would not have been as severe and possibly less or no fatalities.
The experts have been saying all week, Just get out and run toward the train. That is the best way to make sure you are safe.

Experts are not saying to drive you car onto the tracks and leave it there. If you car is stalled then you should get out of it.
If it's operational, then it's a lot faster and safer for everyone to back it up than to leave it on the tracks.
Frankly, leaving your car on the tracks if it can drive should be a criminal offense in my book, if it results in a damage to the train and passengers.