I have ridden the metro north trains while traveling in NY for work. The trains have emergency exit windows. There are handles attached to removable rubber gaskets. You pull the handles down removing the gaskets and then the window pops out allowing you to escape. I hope to never have to try it because it is a good distance to jump out of the window to the ground even if you try to hang down before letting go.

The accident occurred in Valhalla NY.

The reports I've heard were that the driver stopped on the tracks because there was traffic ahead and the approaching train arm went down onto her car. She got out of the car to check for damage and then got back into the car and drove forward and was hit by the oncoming train.

Do I even need to say never stop on train tracks or try to beat an oncoming train or does this accident speak for itself?

For anyone who may be a new driver: if your car breaks down on the tracks and you need to get out and run away you should always run in the direction towards the train as the impact will push the vehicle further down the tracks and you can be injured while eacaping.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/02/03/m...on-harlem-line/

According to the news, the collision was at the crossing near Taconic State Parkway and Commerce St. Google maps had a street view of both the intersection and the railroad crossing. The intersection is controlled by a light, and there are gates, limit lines, and lights at the railroad crossing.

The latest news report I'd that the jeep was stuck on the tracks when it got hit. It appears she stopped on or past the limit line, and then tried to drive clear around traffic on the unpaved tracks adjacent to the crossing. I can see how it's possible to get stuck on those. So there were two errors: stopping on the tracks, and not abandoning the vehicle when it got stuck.


I did have to pull out the emergency widows on an Amtrak train a couple of years ago. The rubber strip pulls out in one long loop that required going hand over hand to remove out completely. And, the window then tips into the car. The window is heavy enough that it's a two person job to stow it out of the way.

We'll never know, but maybe she was one of those people that would rather die trying to fix something they did wrong, rather than just save themselves. Kind of like how pilots will forcefully put a plane into the ground in an open field to avoid killing anyone else.