A tanker truck came within seconds of being hit by a passenger train after getting trapped at a level crossing in Poznań, Poland, on October 26, 2026. Footage released by Poland's rail operator PKP PLK shows traffic congestion leaving the silver tanker stuck between the lowered barriers as the crossing closed around it. Another driver tried to lift one of the barriers to help, but with a PKP Intercity train bearing down, the tanker driver broke through the barrier and moved forward. The truck cleared the tracks only moments before the train rushed past, a margin so thin that viewers can hardly believe it in the video.

The near-miss caused delays to more than 20 trains and damaged barrier equipment, according to the reports. PLK repeated its safety advice that drivers who get stuck between gates should break through the barrier right away instead of waiting. The 31-year-old Ukrainian driver is reportedly facing an investigation, and the final findings have not been announced. The scare comes after several serious level-crossing collisions in Poland this year, which keeps the spotlight on how drivers should act when a crossing closes on them. It also leaves a big question for road users, which is how many seconds you really have once the barriers come down.