A close call at a railroad crossing in South Boston, Virginia, this summer had local train enthusiast Bob Brown totally on edge. Brown, who enjoys filming trains, captured an unexpectedly dramatic moment.

A driver in a 2018 Ford Transit van marked with a Pepsi logo narrowly escaped an oncoming freight train. The incident occurred near a local Sheetz gas station as the van approached the crossing with the gate already down. Brown posted the video on Facebook.

Despite the gate and signal warnings, the driver, identified as Tommy Cobbs, attempted to cross the tracks only to hit the gate. After a failed attempt to reverse, Cobbs made a risky decision to move forward just as the train approached the crossing.

Miraculously, he made it across in time. The train was likely moving at speeds typical for American freight trains, which average between 25 to 60 mph. Due to the train’s weight, it’s nearly impossible for one to stop quickly in emergencies. In this case, the coal train was empty of cargo. This makes it easier to stop. The operator engages the brakes, and the train slows to a halt several cars past the crossing.

Virginia has over 3,000 miles of freight track, and coal is a primary product transported along these routes. Of course, coal is a major commodity for Virginia’s railroads. The state has a long history with coal, especially in the southwest region, where many towns exist based on local mining narratives.

According to GoRail, in 2021, Virginia’s freight trains moved enough goods to eliminate the need for 1.5 million truckloads. The group says that carrying freight by rail significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Strikingly, it estimates converting 1.5 million truckloads to rail freight is equivalent to taking 653,000 cars off the road annually.

In any case, drivers should always heed train signals to avoid harrowing scenarios like the one Brown filmed. We’re not sure why the Ford driver ignored crossing warnings and only slowly moved off the tracks. Doing so can lead to serious consequences besides the obvious safety risk, including fines or more severe charges if an accident occurs.

YourGV.com reported that the Virginia State Police charged Cobbs with failure to obey signs and markings. The incident caused around $2,000 in damage, but fortunately, no one was injured.