They weren't all in the car together, people on the train died too.
OH now I understand her comment.
Yes, there was one person in the SUV that was struck, the woman who was driving. The other people killed were in the first train car, not automobile car.
I think a certain segment of the population tends to assume everything is or has been made safe for them all the time. The label on hot coffee, the cars with the automatic braking systems. They lose all sense of self preservation and reliance. I had someone from her area asking me how people get a car inspection. She had just never been asked to do simple everyday things. I think this woman was disoriented and confused and ran out of time.
Post by underwaterrhymes on Feb 5, 2015 15:08:06 GMT -5
I seriously doubt suicidal. I don't think she would have gotten out of the car and jostled the gate.
When I was younger, some friends and I got stuck on some train tracks. It was rush hour. Also, we were stupid teenagers. So while we realized we were on the tracks immediately and unable to move forward, we figured the light would turn and we'd get to move. But it turns out there was an accident ahead, and so we were stuck for several light cycles.
And then the gate came down behind us. And we heard and saw the train coming. We were screaming. People got out of their cars and were yelling at us that the train was coming. And finally the car in front of us drove off the road so we could pull into his spot maybe 5 or 6 seconds before that train went by. We could see sparks still coming up from the wheels where it was trying to stop.
It was absolutely terrifying and although a lot of logical thought flew out the window (I tried to roll down the window to climb out that way, but it had a child lock), we were acutely aware of our situation and at no point were we casual about it.
I cannot see how there is any way she didn't grasp what was happening unless something was inhibiting her comprehension. The description of her behavior - if accurate (and certainly, there is a chance it's not) - says to me that she was incredibly confused or distracted, and my first thought is either prescription meds / alcohol / drugs or cell phone use.
And the clearly demarcated white stop line on the ground. Whether or not she could see the arm, if she was stopped she should have made sure to stop behind that line.
Such a sad situation.
She might not have seen the clearly demarcated white stop line on the ground. We have had a LOT of snow in my area and the roads are covered with ice and snow so that you still can't see pavement on many roads.
I do wonder if she was wiggling the gate because she was trying to figure if she could lift it up to back up, but once she couldn't, she thought she would drive forwards and through that gate?
I think she was either confused or suicidal. We won't know which.
That could be true. I was just basing it on the aerial photo of the crash scene posted a few posts up. But I guess the ground may have become more cleared while the rescue crews were working.
And the clearly demarcated white stop line on the ground. Whether or not she could see the arm, if she was stopped she should have made sure to stop behind that line.
Such a sad situation.
She might not have seen the clearly demarcated white stop line on the ground. We have had a LOT of snow in my area and the roads are covered with ice and snow so that you still can't see pavement on many roads.
I do wonder if she was wiggling the gate because she was trying to figure if she could lift it up to back up, but once she couldn't, she thought she would drive forwards and through that gate?
I think she was either confused or suicidal. We won't know which.
That's what I was thinking- that she checked to see if she could go back, and when that didn't work maybe thought that she could go forward through the gate and didn't make it.
As to why she tried to beat the train in the first place, or didn't seem totally panicked, I have no ideas.
Post by underwaterrhymes on Feb 5, 2015 15:19:09 GMT -5
Was there even a gate on the other side? In our case, there was only the gate behind us, preventing cars from entering onto the tracks. There was not a gate preventing us from leaving - just the vehicles in front of us.
The gate on the other side was down in front of the cars coming from the other directions.
The interview with the driver behind the jeep just played on CNN and he said that she indicated to him to back up, which he did. But then she went forward instead of back. Could she have panicked and put the car in drive instead of reverse? Or slipped it into the wrong gear?
The interview with the driver behind the jeep just played on CNN and he said that she indicated to him to back up, which he did. But then she went forward instead of back. Could she have panicked and put the car in drive instead of reverse? Or slipped it into the wrong gear?
This actually sounds plausible to me. There was an accident in my local area a few years back where someone drove through a storefront window because they thought they had put the car in reverse, when it was really in drive.