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.
Nah, they had no idea what she was doing, except just sitting there in her car oblivious to the train rolling down on her.
Heh... the loud roar of the train barreling down on me would’ve given me a hint or two... some people are just oblivious and dumb.
What do you base “looks to be legal” on?
1) Speaks proper English, with no accent whatsoever.
2) Is Caucausian-looking.
3) Looks civilized.
And before I get yelled at by some, let me just say that I'm talking about specifically Mrs. Valencia's case, and nothing or no one else.
In any event, given my grassroots immigration issues involvement, I am always a little more sensitive to the possible connection between the event and illegal immigration. Oft times, the MSM tries to cover it up. The fact that it was reported that she, initially as it turned out, was reluctant to appear on camera sent off some alarm bells. Cheers.
The same type of person around here will block the intersection during the green light when traffic is slow.
Amazingly people who appear to want to dispute things with trains come in all colors, kinds, sizes and origins.
Tens of thousands of Americans have been killed or injured by illegal aliens driving in this country.
Well, lets start with the last two words. Common sense is something she is lacking. You never, ever STOP on railroad tracks. What happened to the: "Stop, Look and Listen" before crossing? Always make sure the tracks are clear and roll over them with enough speed to get PAST the crossing arms.
Also, a 270,000-pound locomotive and several passenger cars weigh a lot more than any passenger car and take a long time to stop. A fully loaded 100 car freight train takes over one mile to stop. I don't think any train engineer can see what is on the tracks one mile in front of the train.
Here is a video Mrs. Valencia should watch.
That was 4 days ago. In the past 2 days, you cannot get this woman's face off the TV set. Methinks she's perfectly legal, given the fact that if she was not, she would not be showing her face on TV so much.
I think she's also prepping herself up to sue CSX trains or the MARC train system (or Mont. Co. govt.) for not enough railroad crossing warning signs. She's due to give birth in about 2 months, so watch her re-surface again after the baby is born, wanting to get her chunk 'o dough for the trauma suffered.
In our county, places where there are traffic lights near the railroad tracks, the lights are tied to the train signals, so if there is a train coming the light turns green to allow people to drive away from the tracks, while it turns red for people heading to the tracks.
She said that she tried to back up and drive off the tracks, and I think they said she even hit the car in front and behind her but nobody would move out of her way.
I’m thinking that at some point, you floor it and let the insurance company deal with the aftermath. I know you should get out of the car, but I can’t imagine getting out of the car, walking away, and then having the cars in front of you move 20 seconds before watching your car get smashed.
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