Watch: Elderly Woman Runs Seconds Before Car Hit by Train in Gardner, IL

The woman drove down the tracks instead of a street after leaving a Gardner pub.

Sept. 15, 2025

A 95-year-old woman, who mistakenly drove onto railroad tracks after leaving a local pub, ran to safety seconds before a train hit her car.

The driver turned onto the tracks instead of a street. But, after a short distance, her car got stuck, Gardner Mayor Mike Serena told The Country Herald.

As the freight train came barreling down the tracks, two women started waving their arms in an effort to get it stopped.

With seconds to spare, she and a family member raced to safety.

The crossing was closed for hours while the crash was investigated.

About the Author

Susan Nicol

News Editor

Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.