A dramatic close call unfolded in Layton, Utah, when an SUV driver escaped just seconds before a FrontRunner train slammed into the vehicle after it was pushed onto the tracks by a pickup truck. According to police, the SUV had stopped near the railroad crossing when a pickup rear-ended it, forcing the SUV forward onto the rails with the train rapidly approaching.

The SUV driver attempted to reverse but the damaged vehicle could not move, blocked by the pickup behind it. With the train closing in, the driver made the split-second decision to jump out and run for safety. Moments later, the FrontRunner train plowed into the SUV, crushing its frame and scattering debris across the intersection.

The collision also damaged nearby crossing signals, but remarkably, no injuries were reported among the driver, the pickup operator, or passengers aboard the train. Layton police cited the pickup driver for following too closely, a violation that in this case nearly resulted in a fatal disaster.

Officials emphasized that the incident is a stark reminder of an essential safety rule: **never stop on the tracks under any circumstance.** Trains cannot swerve, require significant distance to brake, and carry enough momentum to obliterate a vehicle in an instant. Even a minor collision or unexpected stop can leave a driver trapped in the path of a massive oncoming locomotive.

Authorities are urging motorists to remain alert near crossings, maintain safe following distance, and ensure their vehicle never enters a rail intersection unless the path ahead is completely clear. In this case, quick thinking and fast action prevented what could have been a deadly tragedy.