A Florida man lifted a railroad crossing arm last week to free a driver trapped on the tracks before an oncoming train arrived [1].
The incident highlights the critical danger of railroad crossings and the immediate impact of bystander intervention in preventing fatal collisions.
Josiah Baur, 23 [1], was at a railroad crossing in Hobe Sound, Florida, when he noticed a vehicle stuck on the tracks [2]. The driver, identified as Debbie Spoelstra, was unable to move her car as the crossing arms descended [1]. With a train approaching, Baur stepped in to manually lift the crossing arm, allowing Spoelstra to drive her vehicle off the tracks and to safety [2].
Witnesses on social media described the act as a miracle. One Facebook witness said, "To the woman in the red car — I’m so glad an angel was sent your way" [3].
Baur, a resident of Port St. Lucie, acted quickly to avert the crash [2]. The Treasure Coast area has seen various safety alerts regarding railroad crossings, but the swift action of the 23-year-old [1] ensured that the encounter ended without injury or property damage [1].
Local reports indicate the rescue occurred during the middle of August [2]. Spoelstra was able to exit the tracks just moments before the train reached the crossing [1].
“Josiah Baur lifted the railroad crossing arm to free Spoelstra's car that was trapped on the tracks.”
This event underscores the inherent risks of railroad crossing malfunctions or driver errors. While Baur's intervention was successful, railroad safety authorities generally advise against attempting to manually manipulate crossing equipment due to the extreme danger of oncoming trains. This incident serves as a reminder of the narrow margins of error at rail intersections.
