Investigators still puzzled by crash

[shenmue]

Story here

Investigators looking into the crash of a Metro North train and an SUV in Valhalla, New York, are still baffled by some aspects of events. They still do not know why the SUV driver stopped on the tracks. Also, they could find no problems with the signals in that section of the Metro North system.

[Cleita]

1. I broke down in the middle of rail tracks once and panicked in case a train came along.

Fortunately, there were other commuters who helped push me off the tracks and road before a train came but it could have not ended well otherwise if a train had been imminent. I'm thinking she had a mechanical breakdown and didn't have time to get her car out of the way. It does happen. Hopefully, forensic analysis of the car might yield some answers.

[shenmue]

2. True

[NaturalHigh]

3. From the little bit that I've read I'm pretty puzzled too.

From witness testimony, one could speculate that she was either disoriented or suicidal.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. How about she was just stupid...

or distracted.

It was a new car, and Mercedes has tons of gadgetry built in, so if she stalled she might not have known how to start it back up. If it could be started back up-- modern cars shut the fuel pump off in a wreck.

She could have simply been confused, and instead of just running out of there, she was trying to find some last ditch way to save the car.

Occam's razor, folks.

[Nay]

5. Exactly. Many people are prone to panic, and when they do, they simply

cannot think straight enough to extricate themselves from a situation. I have seen this happen among family members, and it reminds me that they cannot be counted upon to handle themselves well in an emergency. Although it's unnerving to watch them lose it and know they cannot be depended upon, at least I know that it'll be all on me to get us out of a dangerous situation.

This poor woman certainly may not have yet been as familiar with her new car, as you say. I have a new hybrid and had to relearn how to start, run, and stop the thing because it was completely different. Unlike her, however, I would have abandoned the durn thing if it got stuck on the tracks and a train was coming. That's what insurance is for -- but again, she was obviously seized with panic and could not react appropriately.

[newfie11]

6. Confused is one thing but to stand there while a train

Is roaring toward you is beyond confused. The car behind her saw the train coming and backed up for her.
It had to be a medical problem with her or suicide. What rational person would stand there watching a train coming directly at them and not run.