A Korean-American driver narrowly avoided a catastrophic collision with a freight train after the railroad crossing signals and barriers failed to activate.
The incident occurred at a railroad crossing on Beach Boulevard, a major thoroughfare connecting Buena Park, Fullerton, and La Mirada. The road sees heavy traffic and is frequented by Korean-American residents, particularly due to its proximity to The Source, a popular shopping mall among the local Korean-American community.
The near-collision happened at 9:48 a.m. on January 30. Hannah Song, residing in Buena Park, was in the passenger seat of a Tesla when the vehicle came to a sudden stop just moments before impact.
A video provided by Song shows the Tesla slamming on the brakes as a freight train barrels through the intersection. The footage captures the tense moment as the vehicle, traveling south on Beach Boulevard, approaches the crossing. Despite the presence of an “RXR” railroad warning sign on the pavement, the traffic light was green, indicating that vehicles had the right of way. A black Mercedes-Benz SUV in the adjacent lane was also moving forward.
Then, without warning, the train appeared.
With cars lined up in the left lane waiting to enter the I-5 freeway, the approaching train was obscured from sight. The crossing gates, which should have been lowered to block traffic, never came down. The flashing yellow warning lights, meant to alert drivers before a train’s arrival, never turned on.
The driver of the Mercedes-Benz managed to accelerate and clear the tracks just in time. The Tesla carrying Song came to a screeching halt at the last second, narrowly avoiding a collision.
“I drive this road all the time because my office is nearby, and I was shocked,” Song said. “There are so many Koreans who live and drive in this area. I felt it was important to warn people to be careful.”
On February 13, The Korea Daily contacted the city of Buena Park regarding the malfunctioning railroad signals. A city official responded via email, stating that the crossing is maintained by Caltrans and Union Pacific Railroad. “However, staff will reach out to Union Pacific Railroad to relay this issue” the official added.
According to the Federal Railroad Administration, there were 173 railroad crossing collisions in California last year an average of nearly one every two days.
“This is a serious issue,” said attorney Misoo Lee. “If a malfunctioning signal system leads to a major accident, the responsible agencies could face legal liability. Drivers should report these problems to local authorities to ensure safety improvements.”
Sung-woon Jo, director of Vija Driving School, emphasized the potential danger. “Railroad warning signs are there to remind drivers to be cautious, but in this case, the signals and barriers should have been functioning properly,” he said. “It’s incredibly fortunate that a crash was avoided.”
BY YEOL JANG [jang.yeol@koreadaily.com]
