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.
Is that an "obedience to authority" issue more than anything else? She decided to move when the RR guy charged her (imposed danger) but not before. Maybe she didn't want to break a couple of sticks, or maybe she didn't want to scratch her paint. I don't think either's likely. But she moved when threatened. She's a survivor (except for not moving for the train - big oops on that).