Caught on video: Bay Area man barely avoids speeding train

Harrowing video of a man crossing railroad tracks on foot just before a speeding Bay Area commuter train goes rushing by is being touted by transit authorities as a very good example of what not to do.

The video released by Caltrain, a commuter rail service between San Francisco and San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, shows a few pedestrians crossing the tracks at the Sequoia station in Redwood City despite warning sirens and a flashing crossing gate alerting them to an oncoming train.

Just as the speeding train approaches, an unidentified man bolts across the tracks, avoiding the train by mere feet, if not inches.

Caltrain posted the video on its blog under the title “Anatomy of a Near Miss,” and called on pedestrians to heed train crossing signs and warnings.

“One man is lucky he made it home that day,” the agency said.

The incident apparently occured in late February, according to a corresponding message notifying authorities to a near-miss with a pedestrian that was also posted on the blog.

So far in 2014 there have been three Caltrain deaths, KTVU-TV reported. The fine for crossing the tracks illegally is $271.

jason.wells@latimes.com

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