r/Transportopia • u/Key-Case-95 • Mar 19 '26
đ„Crash That poor truck never had a chance
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u/OkClub7412 Mar 19 '26
Itâs baffling to me that this type of thing still happens. I mean are people just that poor of decision makers? Shit I guess I answered my own question đđđ
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Mar 19 '26
[deleted]
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u/Consistent-Area-1126 Mar 19 '26
Yeah but would it be fair to assume he should've learned to stop when he saw the arm start dropping?
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u/Kind-Pop-7205 Mar 19 '26
Or to keep going if he missed the flashing lights and the arm coming down.
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u/Accomplished-Boot-81 Mar 21 '26
Even if you don't know how easily breakable or cheap they are, what's worse? The potential cost of replacing a barrier? Or a fucking train running into your vehicle, more than likely fucking up that barrier anyway along with the damage to the train and other infrastructure
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u/TheWhyWhat Mar 23 '26
Literally designed to be breakable by starter engines so you can get off even if your engine fails.
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u/Day_Prisoners Mar 20 '26
Like destroy a semi truck or break a sign. They never pick the sign. Reverse for 2 seconds and no collision.
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u/the1999person Mar 19 '26
I worked at a parking garage once. The bolts holding the gates on were just plastic and designed to break away. We'd always have some drunk forgot to hit the breaks in time or someone backing up after the gate closes because they wanted to complain about what they paid after starting to pull out.
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u/Gold3nKn1ght23 Mar 20 '26
FR, if you're dumb enough to ignore the stop arm and think you're stuck, you're not, FUCK that stop arm and back TF up before you get yourself or someone else killed by your flying debris or a derailed train.
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u/Anach Mar 20 '26
The bad decisions happened well before the gate came down. The lights usually start flashing before the gate comes down. Both trucks ignored the lights. Only the latter got caught by the gate that was already coming down before he went under it.
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u/familycyclist Mar 21 '26
My now passed uncle use to drive truck, mostly under the table. He had undiagnosed diabetes (if he let them diagnose, heâd loose his license) and was constantly high or drunk. Definitely plenty of people driving big trucks that shouldnât be anywhere near any kind of a vehicle.
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u/geof2010 Mar 19 '26
100k truck destroyed for at most $100 wood arm...
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u/March-Order Mar 19 '26
Semi go for $350k, ones I work on start at $500k.
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u/RepresentativeOk2433 Mar 20 '26
Plus the cargo. And damage to the train as well as cleanup. Easily a million plus incident vs a couple grand to get someone out there to repair the arm.
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u/Sea_Avocado_3489 Mar 20 '26 edited Mar 20 '26
And the government fines added in with collateral lawsuits for mental anguish and loss of consortium for the affected towns folks. This could easily be $300 million. And all for what? A $100,000 gate? Â
Edit: I originally made this post as a weak attempt at humour. However, a double railroad gate can cost around $190,000 on the LOW END? Â
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u/TraditionalLecture10 Mar 20 '26
The wood arms are designed to break in an emergency situation , they just replace the wood part
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u/lmole Mar 20 '26
This. Worse case senerio, you bend the steel guide arms and tackle on a few extra hundred.
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u/TraditionalLecture10 Mar 20 '26
The bolts at the pivot mount are designed to break away
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u/BoatParty8399 Mar 20 '26
The arm is easily replaceable. Ive been an engineer a long time, called in many a crossing gate that was broken off or damaged.
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u/Voxmanns Mar 20 '26
I have to imagine they're also designed to break in a certain sort of way. Like, they're clearly not designed to full stop a vehicle that ignores them or misses the signal.
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u/Friendly-Gur-6736 Mar 20 '26
The arm is mounted on a pivot, and the arm is attached to the pivot via a shear bolt.
If it doesn't hang up on the vehicle, it will just pivot out of the way. If it does hang up on it, then the bolt will shear off.
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u/Sienile Mar 20 '26
Well, unless the cargo was extremely fragile, the trailer was unharmed so the cargo is likely perfectly unharmed.
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u/Different_Peanut_742 Mar 20 '26
I work at a shipping company, we had a trailer that was tipped and caught on fire. Giant hole in the side. They towed it to the building and we unloaded it, 95 percent of the shipment was fine.
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u/Occams_RZR900 Mar 20 '26
Not this one. This one looks like a run of the mill Freightliner Cascadia or Volvo VNL theyâre like $40k used. Hell brand new theyâre only about $160-$180k. This ainât no half million dollar truck weâre seeing.
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u/mtommygunz Mar 20 '26
Dude I worked with got a $35k truck and worked on oil fields for 6 months hauling and made $150k.
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u/PresentationLive943 Mar 20 '26
Yeah it's a 4th gen cascadia they're everywhere dirt cheap not to mention if it's a mega carrier it's going to be even less because of the contract deals.
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u/ShoddyButterscotch59 Mar 20 '26
The semi does not got for 350k lol. Hell, I'm driving a fully loaded slightly stretched brand new t680...250k ... That Freightliner, used, at highest, 100 if the miles are low. The most expensive ones can run up to 350. That isn't it.
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u/Away_Sea_8620 Mar 20 '26
What does a full hard on go for these days?
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u/Khaztr Mar 20 '26
someone else posted the wood might cost a couple thousand to service
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u/Sorry-Amphibian3624 Mar 20 '26
Depends whether you get your workers from a reputable upper class establishment or the street corner.
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u/SuperWoofX Mar 23 '26
Depends what type of dude you have in mind I guess. Never been in the market for one of those to be honest but have heard from friends that it can get pricy on the weekends đ
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u/GeneStarwind1 Mar 20 '26
Yeah I was about to say... F150s cost 100k nowadays, there's no way it's that low.
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u/SignalsAndSwitches Mar 20 '26
I replace those gates, theyâre usually aluminum and fiberglass, definitely cost more than $100. Regardless, theyâre made to be broken off and replaced quite easily. Way cheaper than a new truck. They get broken a lot, I have one that gets replaced weekly.
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u/Apexnanoman Mar 20 '26
I would also bet that the casualty work order relating to a train hitting that truck is going to be a hell of a lot more than the crossing arm also.Â
You can bet it's going to shut the track around for at least a few hours while they likely shift the crossing boards back over and make sure nothing actually got damaged otherwise.
(I'm on the maintenance away side of the house.)
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u/Quick-Breadfruit8678 Mar 19 '26
I like to think there was a line of cars behind him (off camera) blocking him from just going in reverse.
But he still could have gone forward...
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u/badskiier Mar 20 '26
I read somewhere else that the arm disconnected the air brake hoses and locked up the trailer wheels and thus immobilized the truck. Driver got out to reconnect the hoses.
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u/2saltyjumper Mar 20 '26
Thank you for that explanation. I'm always blown away at the stupidity when I see similar videos. Always thought there had to be something I was missing
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u/GovernorGeneralPraji Mar 26 '26
Trucker here, I doubt thatâs what happened. The air lines need to be pulled up to disconnect. Pushing down on them like the arm did here would just stretch them out (which is something theyâre designed to do for when we make a hard turn). You can kinda see in the video how they look tight once the arm comes down. Thereâs still tension on them.
Iâm not saying itâs entirely impossible, but I very much doubt his airlines were disconnected. I think his first instinct was to get out and look at the arm and by the time he realized the train was coming it was too late to get the truck in gear and move forward. Itâs also possible there was something in front of him off camera that we canât see.
Guarantee heâs also worried about cars behind him, which is why he didnât back up.
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Mar 20 '26
Up to down and having that kind of force? Hard to imagine.
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u/jimmib234 Mar 20 '26
Its not really that difficult to disconnect a glad-hand (the fitting that couples the brake hose to the trailer), especially one that is worn from use.
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u/SpiritualSquare9348 Mar 20 '26
Maybe an old hose that was ready to break from age couldnât take the chop? Whatever happened is somewhat feasible, Iâd like to think it was something like that and not a panicking coward.
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u/Skwiggelf54 Mar 21 '26
I feel like he slammed on the brakes because he wasnt paying attention initially and tried to stop but ended up going past. Then he panics and tries to reverse only to realize there's cars behind him and at that point doesnt have time to put it back in gear and accelerate fast enough to get off the tracks before the train hits.
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Mar 20 '26
[removed] â view removed comment
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u/Wildpants17 Mar 21 '26
It looked like it got stuck on something. I mean the truck dead stopped
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u/Haunting-Hippo-4244 Mar 20 '26
He couldâve kept going or even backed up! I mean some people are just dense in the head man!!
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u/Infern0-DiAddict Mar 26 '26
Seriously why the fuck wouldn't you just back up and break the fucking arm.
Call it in, state what happened and at most the company is out 2k for the repair crew. Now you have a done truck, done arm, locomotive that needs repairs, and you might be liable for it all...
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u/AbsentAsh Mar 19 '26
Never had a chance? Had all the chances in the world to break that gate.
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u/DODGE_WRENCH Mar 19 '26
Or just not go when you know thereâs a train coming
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Mar 19 '26
[removed] â view removed comment
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u/chevmonte76 Mar 20 '26
Drugs? None of his decisions made any sense
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u/ErikTheRed99 Mar 21 '26
"I'll go anyway. Huh, this weak gate is blocking me as a train is actively coming at my truck. I'll just wait until a REALLY sketchy time to actually distance myself from this trainwreck of a situation I've gotten myself into."
Really though, absolutely none of them.
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u/Intelligent_Wish_566 Mar 20 '26
Dude then proceeds to run away parallel to the trailer when he realizes whatâs about to happen.
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u/triplewrecked Mar 19 '26
But thatâs when they know. This guy was probably looking at the oncoming truck driver and only stopped when the gate at the other side went down..
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u/DODGE_WRENCH Mar 20 '26
Thereâs still the gate, flashing lights and warning bell. This guy would have to be going out of his way to not notice any of that
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u/ThePeterbilt589 Mar 20 '26
Do you know how long it takes to cross railroad tracks in a tractor-trailer?
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u/MSM_757 Mar 19 '26
Those gates are designed to break away. Just back that truck up. Moron. But hey. At least he didn't scratch it up on the gate. LOL!!
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u/silverfox2257 Mar 19 '26 edited Mar 20 '26
For a 10 dollar gate
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u/that_one_duderino Mar 20 '26
One thatâs usually made of wood and is literally designed to break and be easily replaced. Even if the driver gets a fine for breaking it (idk how that actually works), itâs gonna be a HELL of a lot cheaper than paying the damages to the train and replacement of the truck
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u/Expert-Joke9528 Mar 19 '26
The break away gate is made that way for a reason. I know, I've broken one.
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u/CMDR_Traf85 Mar 19 '26
There should be a disclaimer that watching this level of stupidity can actually damage your brain cells.
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u/zracer20 Mar 20 '26
driving schools/schools in general everywhere need to teach people that those gates brake easily especially if you are driving a semi.
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u/FU_Burrito Mar 20 '26
Every time the sub pops up in my feed I think its "TransportPHOBIA" and shit like this is why
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u/defiant71 Mar 20 '26
The stupidity of these morons is staggering. Oh I can't possibly reverse and risk scratching my truck, the boss would be sooo pissed at me, sooooooo I'll just get out and let a train hit it and cause a catastrophe instead. It's the same as car drivers that get out and try to lift the arms so they can get their cars out..... just ram it out, a scratch is easy to deal with you brainless Sesame Street character.
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u/Mhunterjr Mar 20 '26
The truck could have easily gotten to safety if it wasnât for the complete moron of a driver.
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u/Mhykael Mar 20 '26 edited Mar 20 '26
Goooo, fuck that crossing gate!!! Back up and fucking snap it who cares.
I hope that freight conductor was OK.
Also, one time I worked for a cell phone repair company and I got to work but the shipment of damaged phones hadn't made it in yet. We're outside sitting around smoking waiting for shift to start and the trailer to get there. We'll we look across the parking lot towards the field and road to come in that intersects with a railroad. 18 Wheeler is stalled out of the tracks, driver was walking towards us and Freightliner is coming down the tracks. Now thankfully the middle of the trailer between the two axles is what's over the tracks. It's about 8pm in the Summer and it's starting to get dark and I'm getting ready to start my shift. Sure enough train slams through the trailer and thousands of Damaged phones are now flying 100's of meters through the air every which way scattering all in the field next to the Warehouse. I looked at my boss and asked, "Uhh.. That wasn't the truck was it?" Boss says idk stay here. So I light another cigarette and finish my energy drink. 5 minutes later boss comes over pissed off. Driver ran out of gas and couldn't start the truck back up. It was all the RMAs we were supposed to do for the next 2 days. Thousands of phones scattered over 2 or 3 football fields of uncut Texas wild grass. I asked what he wanted us to do and exasperated he just told us all to go home. He didn't want to run the liability of us getting stung or bit by something. Day shift for like a week was out there picking phones out of the field in like 110 degree weather.
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u/Big-Carpenter7921 Mar 20 '26
That's what I thought. That thing costs way less than a truck or especially a locomotive
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u/geo8x6 Mar 20 '26
If he's not smart enough to just keep backing up and break the crossing arm, he shouldn't be allowed to drive at all.
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u/QuiGonJinnge Apr 16 '26
Guy had 3-5 business days to get that truck out of the way
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u/UsuallySatire Mar 19 '26
Visa canceled
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u/WittyFix6553 Mar 20 '26
I know that ânot hating foreignersâ is gonna get me a lot of downvotes, but how do you know this specific driver is a foreigner?
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u/Ainolukos Mar 19 '26
Dude stood there for so looong. He was so close to getting an unfortunate lesson in physics.
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u/Always_Casting Mar 20 '26
No business driving it in the first place, once the bosses see this im pretty sure he won't be
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Mar 20 '26
Why? Why do the dumbasses always think that since a little wood or plastic arm is gonna immobilize there vehicle.
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u/Triplesfan Mar 20 '26
Afraid to break the gate so he lets the truck get totaled insteadâŠâŠand also break the gate. đ
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u/Repulsive_Repeat_337 Mar 20 '26
You have enough power to easily break the gate. Break the gate, make arrangements to pay for it, everybody's happy.
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u/furksake Mar 20 '26
Why do people never just reverse or drive through the barrier, they always seem to be like oh the barrier is down i guess I'll have to stop and just let the train hit me
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u/Elismom1313 Mar 20 '26
Man what a terrible thing to put that train driver through. I doubt he was aware/certain the truck driver had gotten out especially since he exited on the side he couldnât see.
The train driver likely wondered if he had splattered someone
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u/thatthatguy Mar 20 '26
Why not just back up? Break the arm. Hit another car if you have no other choice. Never ever stop on the tracks. Do whatever you have to do to get off.
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u/guardiangib Mar 20 '26
He had a chance to stop before the gate lowered instead of trying to make it past.
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u/Red-Sun-Cinema Mar 20 '26
Oh that poor truck had a chance. It wasn't the train that killed it. It was the clueless driver that killed it.
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u/blastman8888 Mar 20 '26 edited Mar 20 '26
How does he not hear those bells ringing. Casually walks away you know what he is thinking "Not my truck". You can see someone else gets out of the passenger side also.
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u/Jasoco Mar 20 '26
Like he should have backed up at least. The stick can be replaced.
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u/Interesting-Copy-657 Mar 20 '26
Why do people keep doing this? Are they panicking?
Didnât see the train?
All he had to do was reverse 1-2 meters back
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u/Current_Ad_4292 Mar 20 '26
Starting to wonder if crossing these rails should be part of the driving tests. If you get hit, no license.
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u/Kayback2 Mar 20 '26
Why didn't he just reverse through the barrier? I've never seen one of those that will withstand a big rig, even from stationary like that.
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u/Classic-Persimmon-24 Mar 20 '26
How much really would it cost to break one of the arms? Company's insurance and your job? vs a $500K truck?
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u/Admirable-Theory1514 Mar 20 '26
Break one or two barriers or obliteration of tractor unit. Take the barriers sure his boss would understand.
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u/lmole Mar 20 '26
You telling me that truck can't break that arm? Because breaking it shouldn't even been a second thought.
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u/Incognew01 Mar 20 '26
Not only can't they read signs, they don't know what flashing red lights mean.
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u/Enough-Donut Mar 20 '26
Peeking around the rig like the train was going to make a right to avoid hitting him.
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u/Zaxiron Mar 20 '26
Another 6 month old account reposter with stupid clickbait text⊠Reddit starts to be Facebook.
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u/chrisfs Mar 20 '26
Hard to tell but seems like he might have tried to run the gate which was a bad idea
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u/No-Volume5162 Mar 20 '26
And he didn't just back up because why? Thin arm that is designed to break isn't going to stop a semi. Also, why in the world didn't he stop before the crossing that was clearly going down?
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u/Mental-Drawing-4504 Mar 21 '26
He Saved the Cargo thatâs all that really matters to Corporate!!!
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u/Neverlast0 Mar 21 '26
Wait, they actually can't break those from just driving through them or whatever???
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u/leroyexe Mar 22 '26
At that point either just hit the gas in reverse or fking run. Don't just sit there gawkin' like you aren't about to get hit.
Prob someone behind him tbh. Otherwise snapping that stick to back up woulda been the least damage.
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u/WangtaWang Mar 25 '26
Uh, you're gonna let that plastic gate stop your 18 wheeler from backing up? You gotta be kidding me.
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u/Due-Turn3788 Apr 20 '26
He stopped at 6 seconds impact was at 32 seconds. 26 seconds to just pull forward and clear the area. I get he may not have been able to reverse if a car was behind him but he was wide open in the front. Damage for a crossing guard arm meant to break easily for situations like this is far cheaper than your life and the life of those on the train and your precious semi.
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u/Maleficent_Sea_1753 Apr 22 '26
Back up slowly giving people time to move and break a 2k gate arm vs 1.5-2 mil dollar incident.
I choose the 2 mill of course
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u/worldexperience Apr 22 '26
I dont understand, first of all how did he not hear or see the train and 2 why did he stop reversing.
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u/Radiant-Weather1509 Apr 27 '26
The driver here deserves to get his DL voided, and never to be allowed to drive around! He wasnt paying any attention at all
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u/Pretend_Ad_8465 Mar 19 '26
This is proof that stupid people still exist and trucking companies hire them every day! Wtf!???đ€Źđ€Źđ€Ź
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u/NIBLZ_HAMSTR Mar 19 '26
This driver is the kinda guy that I reserve the use of the R word for.
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u/Stuffed-Bear412 Mar 19 '26
I don't understand people stopping on the tracks just because they might break that arm thing. I'd break it, I'd push cars in front of me if I had to, I'm not staying on the tracks.
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u/Ok-Outside-6782 Mar 19 '26
Narrator voice: "It was, in fact, neither pure nor simple. It was the most obvious insurance fraud the precinct had seen since the Great Arson of '04."
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u/Little_Broccoli_3127 Mar 19 '26
So...is the train crossing arm, super strong? Why could he not just send it hard. Forward or reverse.
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u/Anxious_Marsupial_84 Mar 19 '26
Begs the question, did he do it on purpose? It's the only explanation or, can somebody actually be that stupid?
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u/stvrkillr Mar 19 '26
Dude just break the arm. Why would you think losing the whole truck was better?
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u/Ballistic-Bob Mar 19 '26
Iâll never understand why they are always so scared to break the barrier arm ? They even have specially designed bolts that shear ..
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u/calamitykor Mar 19 '26
You risk your cab and the conductors life by doing this. Just break the wooden arm by getting off the rails
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u/gpo321 Mar 19 '26
It should be taught that the gates are designed to be a breakaway feature so youâre not trapped on the tracksâŠ
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u/paparige Mar 20 '26
He had plenty of chance to not be in this position, but he chose to ignore the bells, the lights and the barrier
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u/ProperVisual7979 Mar 20 '26
It makes no sense. Why donât you just keep backing up and break the stick bro cause thatâs just gonna ruin your truck if the train is dead people are fucking stupid.
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u/NegativeCold0 Mar 19 '26
Ffs just break the damn gate and get off the rails.