Tragedy Averted - Just Barely!

During a midday break from the Cruisin' car show uptown on Saturday, I stopped to take these pics of the Conrail Susquehanna Limited passenger train passing through Columbia on its rail excursion.

 Several photographers snapped pics of the train as 

it approached.  I estimate it was traveling at 40-45 mph.

 Unfortunately, a vehicle with a boat trailer had passed 

under the gate just as it was descending.  Instead of proceeding immediately to safety around the gate on the other side of the tracks, the driver chose to stay on the tracks, despite the alarmed shouts of several people present.

As can be seen from this photograph, there was ample space for the driver to go around the opposite gate. 

What can't be seen from the photograph is that there had been ample time for the vehicle and boat to pass over the tracks.

 The train reached the intersection . . . 

 and sped past without incident . . . 

 as onlookers watched.

 Meanwhile, the vehicle sat on the tracks, dangerously 

close to the passing train cars.

Finally, the train passed, and the vehicle rolled over the 

tracks to the River Park.