DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — Police in Delray Beach said a Brightline train hit a car on the tracks — while the driver was still inside the vehicle — early Monday morning.
The agency posted on X that the incident occurred at 5:30 a.m. at George Bush Boulevard and Northeast Fifth Avenue.
🚨 Traffic Alert 🚨 At 5:30 AM, a southbound @GoBrightline train struck a car at George Bush Blvd & NE 5th Ave. The driver of the car was on the tracks when the gates came down. No injuries reported. Scene has been cleared. #DelrayBeach #TrafficAlert
— Delray Beach Police (@DelrayBeachPD) June 17, 2024
Ted White, the public information officer for the Delray Beach Police Department and Delray Beach Fire Rescue, said the driver of the car is from the Caribbean and isn't used to being around trains.
White said the man drove onto the tracks with the front end of his vehicle on the tracks.
The gates came down and a Brightline train heading southbound slammed into the front of the car, taking off part of the vehicle and spinning it around.
Amazingly, the driver was not hurt, White said.
White added that it's unclear if the gates actually came down onto the car. But the vehicle was inside the gated area when the crash happened.
The scene was cleared by 8:28 a.m., Delray Beach police said on X.
According to the Federal Railroad Administration, there have been 33 railroad crossing incidents, like crashes, in Florida this year through March 31.
Six of them have been in Palm Beach County, which is the highest in the state.
The FRA said if you do find yourself stuck or your car is stalled on a railroad crossing, move away from your car at a 45-degree angle and call 911.
The group also said don't enter a railroad crossing if you aren't sure if you can clear it completely.