Freight Train PUSHES Car Quarter-Mile — Woman SURVIVES

Amtrak locomotive parked at a railway station

An 82-year-old woman miraculously survived being pushed a quarter-mile by a CSX freight train in New Jersey, highlighting the deadly consequences when confusion and poor infrastructure design collide at railroad crossings.

Story Highlights

Elderly driver confused by crossing signals stopped directly on active railroad tracks
CSX freight train pushed her vehicle an astonishing quarter-mile before stopping
Woman sustained only minor leg injuries despite the extraordinary collision
Route 535 closed for hours, disrupting commuters and commerce in South Brunswick

Driver’s Fatal Confusion at Railroad Crossing

The 82-year-old female driver made a catastrophic error on Wednesday, November 27, 2025, when she stopped her vehicle directly on railroad tracks in South Brunswick, New Jersey. Despite observing flashing warning lights indicating an approaching CSX freight train, she failed to recognize that her car was positioned in the locomotive’s path. This situational awareness breakdown occurred at approximately 2:00 p.m. during broad daylight, when visibility conditions should have favored accident prevention. The incident exposes how confusing crossing designs can endanger citizens, particularly elderly drivers who may struggle with complex traffic situations.

UPDATE – Minor injury to driver.
At 3:05pm an 82 year old Jamesburg woman saw the train crossing lights flash on Rt 535 and stopped. She thought she was stopped before the tracks, but was actually on the tracks. The train collided with the car. She suffered a minor leg injury. pic.twitter.com/J7fMwNjmlO

— So Brunswick PD (@SoBrunswickPD) November 26, 2025

Remarkable Survival Against Impossible Odds

The outcome defied all expectations when the massive freight locomotive struck the woman’s vehicle and pushed it an entire quarter-mile down the tracks. Train-vehicle collisions typically result in fatalities or severe injuries, making her survival with only minor leg injuries nothing short of miraculous. Emergency responders transported her to a local hospital for treatment, where her condition remained stable. The extraordinary distance her vehicle traveled while in contact with the locomotive demonstrates the immense force involved, yet somehow the impact angle and vehicle positioning allowed her to escape the worst consequences.

Infrastructure Failures and Public Safety Concerns

This incident raises serious questions about railroad crossing safety standards and warning system effectiveness in New Jersey. The driver’s confusion despite active warning signals suggests potential design flaws that could endanger other motorists. CSX Transportation, the freight operator involved, has remained silent about the incident, avoiding accountability for their role in this near-tragedy. Local authorities closed Route 535 in both directions for several hours, disrupting commerce and commuters while emergency crews managed the scene and investigation.

Pattern of Railroad Industry Negligence

Railroad crossing incidents represent a persistent threat to American communities, with the Federal Railroad Administration tracking thousands of such collisions annually. While safety improvements have reduced fatal incidents over recent decades, this near-miss demonstrates that more action is needed to protect citizens from confusing crossing designs and inadequate warning systems. The South Brunswick Police Department’s investigation continues, though specific findings have not been disclosed to the public.

Transportation safety experts emphasize that grade crossing incidents often stem from driver confusion, misjudgment of train speed, or failure to understand warning signals. This case perfectly illustrates how inadequate infrastructure design can create life-threatening situations for law-abiding citizens who simply become disoriented at poorly marked intersections. The woman’s remarkable survival should not obscure the need for immediate improvements to crossing safety standards and clearer warning systems that protect all Americans from similar incidents.