LAYTON – A newly released video captured the moment an SUV was hit by a UTA FrontRunner train in Layton on February 4. Fortunately, the driver escaped before the impact.
“All things considered, everybody’s quite fortunate to have escaped without any injuries,” said Gavin Gustafson, Sr. public information officer for Utah Transit Authority.
With the emergency brake engaged and horn blaring, security video from inside the train showed the moment the Frontrunner conductor prepared for impact.
“Oh, come on,” he could be heard saying as the train approached the 1000 S. Angel Street crossing in Layton.
But there was nothing the conductor could do.
“Trains don’t swerve, and they certainly don’t stop very quickly,” Gustafson said.
The white SUV on the track that day was first hit from behind as it slowed for the crossing, the impact sending it across a set of tracks and into the path of the on-coming train. A second security video from the crossing shows the driver put the vehicle into reverse and then back into the safety arm before coming to a stop.
“In the heat of the moment, the panic of the moment, they jumped out of the car and, and then the train hit the car,” Gustafson said.
Gustafson said it’s easy to watch this video and want the driver to pull forward or reverse and break the arm, but hindsight is 20/20, and the driver was likely in shock.
“I’m certainly not going to second-guess them in the heat of the moment,” he said. “And sometimes, the view might be blocked by something else, you don’t want to pull forward if there is another train coming.”
UTA estimated the collision caused over $100k in damage to the Frontrunner train. The safety arm and SUV were also destroyed. However, the crossing’s post was repaired within 24 hours with the help of Layton City.
Gustafson said he hoped that by seeing the security video, Utahns would be reminded to pay attention when approaching a TRAX or FrontRunner crossing.
“Use your eyes and ears, all of your senses, be paying attention to the arms and the flashing lights, red lights, and ringing bells,” he said.
He also wanted Utahns to remember to drive through the safety arm if they’re ever caught on a track.
“Go ahead and break the gate arms, they’re far less important than you or your car,” he said. “It’s a whole lot better than what ended up happening.”
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