Last year, trains hit over 2,200 vehicles at railroad crossings. It’s a dangerous place to be, and a reminder for drivers to take crossings seriously. That is, unless you want to lose a trailer to a speeding commuter train like this Fort Worth, Texas, driver. 

A Fort Worth driver learned quickly why you don’t park your truck (or trailer) on the tracks at a railroad crossing

There’s a good reason why railroad crossings are clearly marked and lit, if also flanked by large, brightly-colored barriers. A typical freight train loaded with cargo can take over a mile to stop. A mile. And at over a mile in length, a freight train can have unimaginable mass. Your car simply won’t win.

Well, this Fort Worth, Texas, driver didn’t get the memo on the dangers of railroad crossings. A video shows the driver stopping just beyond a set of railroad tracks in a large dually Ford pickup truck. Now, this dually truck is long enough with its full-size bed and cab. But the Texan was also towing a small trailer with a green skid-steer loader on board. Might as well have been a train itself.

Then the danger became apparent to everyone around. One of the railroad crossing barriers lowered onto the skid-steer loader, signaling the incoming threat. An orange Dodge Charger behind the truck and trailer reversed to provide some room. The pickup driver, however, opted to inch forward, perhaps hoping that the oncoming train would just miss them. No such luck, I’m afraid. 

A small commuter train with the words “Trinity Railway Express” on its side slammed into the trailer, barely slowing as it did. Miraculously, it was a clean hit. The impact sheared the trailer and payload off the pickup truck’s trailer hitch and left the truck otherwise unharmed.

As expected, the internet was less than sympathetic. “And that’s why you don’t stop on the tracks,” one viewer responded. Another commenter replied, “I just looked in my rear view mirror and it was gone.” Ouch. Imagine explaining that one. 

Check out the video of the train versus trailer hit below!