Story By: Gabriel Zamfir, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News 

Video Credit: CEN/@cfrinfrastructura

This is the moment a driver allegedly speaking on the phone pulls out in front of a moving train at a level crossing and only avoids the locomotive by a few inches.

The startling incident took place at a railroad crossing in the village of Jucu Hergheliu, in Jucu Commune, Central Romania’s Cluj County and was recorded by a CCTV camera.

In the video, a driver can be seen hesitantly moving towards the level crossing when the headlights of a train begin approaching from the left.

The driver, reportedly 20 years old, appears to be unaware of the oncoming train and crosses the tracks. The SUV passes just in front of the speeding train and moves off the tracks to safety.

The Romanian railroad company CFR Infrastructure, the incident took place on the night of December 4th. The company shared the footage on their social media channel with the following description: “The wonder from the railway of Jucu Herghelie!

“(…)The driver did not comply with the light and acoustic signals of the level crossing with the railway of Jucu Herghelie… The young man, aged 20, told the police from the Cluj County Police Inspectorate that at that time, he was distracted by a phone call conversation. He is upset that he handed over his driver’s license for 90 days, but he is happy he is still alive.

“Because life is a priority, drivers must respect the significance of the indicators and signalling at level crossings!”

After the incident, the police arrived at the scene and the driver was fined and had his licence suspended. He reportedly acknowledged that he had been distracted by a phone conversation.

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