Posted on 05/11/2009 7:24:21 PM PDT by SilvieWaldorfMD
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Friday's crash involving a MARC train and a pregnant driver who got caught crossing the railroad tracks prompted authorities to remind drivers never to attempt to cross tracks unless there already is sufficient room between the crossing and the next vehicle on the other side of the tracks.
Cemille Valencia's car was struck after the gates came down on her car. She said traffic was moving along at a steady pace but just stopped suddenly, leaving her stuck on the tracks at Randolph Road in Rockville.
The conductor tried to stop, but it was too late, and the train struck Valencia's car, sent it spinning and forced a crossing barrier through the back of the car and all the way through the front windshield, barely missing Valencia's head.
Valencia is seven months pregnant, but neither she nor her unborn child was seriously hurt.
People who live and work in the area say traffic backs up on the tracks several times a day.
AAA Mid-Atlantic advised motorists to keep a safe distance of 10 to 50 feet from the railroad crossing, especially during rush hour.
Can any of our very talented local news reporters ask Mrs. Valencia (the pregnant woman who survived the Mont.Co. railroad crossing incident) why it is that she & her car were right in the middle of the railroad tracks during rush hour? I mean, the lights were not flashing and the barriers were not coming down when she was stuck there, but eventually a MARC train was barreling down, and the barriers and signals did start alerting. Isn't it common sense not to stop in the middle of the tracks, with or without traffic? Also, has anyone asked her if she was utilizing her cell phone prior to the horrific accident? Mrs. Valencia stated today that she wants to improve railroad safety, and that starts with common sense. I'm happy that she and her baby survived the accident, but lady, your 15 minutes are up.
This is the first I have heard the story, but I see people do that from time to time. Unless I have room to get on the other side of the barriers, I stay outside the barriers on my side..
TSR - for your Maryland ping list.
All others - this story is driving me NUTS! Read post #1 as to why.
I agree but I have always being told never to stop on tracks.
YES! COMMON SENSE, RIGHT??
And now this lady has the *gall* to go on TV today, demanding that there should be some “reform” to the notification of drivers vis-a-vis the railroad notifying system.
She first needs to admit that she was totally at fault, AND THEN go about and make her public service announcement.
Then perhaps she should go back to her hole and shut up.
I bet you $10 that she was gabbing on her cell phone when this train was barreling down....
Railroad crossings are exceptionally dangers ~ mostly because there are trains going through there, but also because trains have the right of way!
And let the morons behind me toot their horns or go around me.
I have a feeling if her child is born with learning disabilities or whatever she will go after the Train Crossing for some compensation for her own stupidity!
Gee, ya think?
And I would add to that, if you see an idiot in front of you who HAS stopped on the tracks, stop your own vehicle far enough back that the idiot has room to back off the tracks if s/he happens to realize what an idiotic thing s/he has done (and noticing you in the rear-view mirror, keeping your distance, just *might* cause the idiot to think about why you might be doing that, and thus realize that sitting on the tracks is an idiotic thing to do).
Just a typical DC driver, along with the ones who block intersections, make left turns from the middle or right lanes, stop in the traveled part of the roadway to run into a store, make u-turns against the signs, run red lights.....
My reading of the article is that once she followed another driver too closely and that driver stopped, she had no choice but to stop on the tracks.
It is my observation that following too closely and tailgating are much more common with female drivers. I haven't yet heard a woman correctly state the proper distance to maintain between cars on highways.
I actually ride this commuter train back and forth to work a couple of times each week. Yesterday, the conductor was still talking about this woman and why she froze when she got stuck.
Its hard on the suspension, but at this intersection there is the soft shoulder that would get you out of the way of the train. I find the line about the traffic suddenly stopped a bit disingenuous. The traffic stopped because the light changed at the next intersection.
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
She has since been on TV, kabar, and looks to be a legal, U.S. citizen. She also wants to “reform” railroad crossing areas, never mentioning once that she was the one at fault.
Interesting, Ridge. Did the train conductor mention whether or not the woman was “gabbin’ away” on her cell phone as the train was approaching and not paying full attention?
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