My RR crews have stories that would curl your hair.

One woman stalled at the crossing on a narrow road, and she got caught between both arms when they came down. She got the car started, but wouldn't move forward because she was afraid of breaking the barrier arm. The crew had seen her and were doing an emergency stop, but they knew they weren't going to be able to stop. When they got close enough, they saw the car seat in the back with a little head. One of the crew jumped out of the engine with a heavy tool in his hand and ran ahead of the train, the tool raised to smash the back window and try to release the child before the train hit.

The woman wouldn't move to get out of the way of the train, but she stepped on the gas when she saw this crazy guy running at her car with a 'weapon'. She hit the gas and the arm swung as it was designed to do. She pulled ahead and then stopped. The guy ran up to her and apologized for scaring her, explaining that he was going to try to release the kid.

He said she kept apologizing, saying she didn't want to break the barrier. So, she was trading her life and that of her child for a crossing arm.

Sue