An unbelievable scene unfolded in South Brunswick, New Jersey this week, as an 82-year-old woman found herself trapped inside her car after a collision with a freight train. The incident, a chilling reminder of the power and scale of locomotives, left onlookers stunned and emergency responders scrambling.
The woman reportedly stopped her vehicle Wednesday afternoon, noticing flashing lights indicating an approaching train. Tragically, she hadn’t realized she’d come to rest *on* the railroad tracks, a critical misjudgment with potentially devastating consequences.
What followed was a harrowing ordeal. The CSX train, unable to stop immediately, relentlessly pushed the woman’s gray sedan a full quarter of a mile down the tracks. Imagine the sheer force, the grinding metal, and the terrifying realization of her predicament.
Against all odds, the woman survived. Emerging from the wreckage with only a minor leg injury, her resilience is nothing short of remarkable. She was swiftly transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation and care.
Images released by the South Brunswick Police Department painted a stark picture of the aftermath. The car sat twisted and perpendicular across the tracks, a mangled testament to the impact, directly facing the massive locomotive that struck it.
The collision brought traffic to a standstill, forcing the complete closure of Route 535 in both directions for several hours as crews worked to clear the scene and investigate the circumstances surrounding this extraordinary event.
The incident serves as a potent warning about situational awareness near railroad crossings and the importance of heeding all warning signals. It’s a story of incredible luck, and a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to endure even the most unimaginable circumstances.
