Video shows woman barely escaped train impact

Train collides with car stuck under railroad crossing boom gate

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Niurka Cardenas was driving when she stopped on the train tracks near Barnes Park in Miami-Dade County. She said a railroad crossing boom gate descended and she was trapped. 

As the train approached, she said she had no choice but to jump out of the car and run. A video shows her getting out of the car to barely miss the impact. 

The car and the train collided near the intersection of Southwest 72nd Avenue and Southwest 39th Street.

"I am relieved to be alive," Cardenas said in Spanish after the Friday afternoon scare. 

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel responded, but she wasn't injured. Her mangled car did need to be towed. 

"I have been here five years, and I have never seen anything like that happen before," said Stephanie Navarro, who lives near the train crossing. 

Miami-Dade Police Department officers said it is unclear if Cardenas will be cited.


About the Authors:

Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor. She is now a general assignment reporter. Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home, Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill.

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.