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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Stop the train! My car!

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Darwin says, "Accepted into the Archive."


ORIGINAL SUBMISSION:

Italian: http://www.ladige.it/news/a_portale_lay_notizia_01.php?id_cat=4&id_news=7163

A man on his Porsche Cayenne was waiting in queue at the traffic lights. The problem is that right before the traffic lights there is a railway crossing. The man did not let the queue progress forward enough before crossing the railway.

As you might imagine, a train was coming (Murphy's Law is always right). The safety bars came down, leaving his car "trapped" on the railway. He took a while to realize he was stuck, according to witnesses. He jumped down the car, and started to run... toward the coming train, waving his arms at it, probably in an attempt to stop it to save his vehicle.

He got pushed about 30meters away; any attempt to revive him was unsuccessful. The car, as you can see on the picture from the above link, received less damage than his owner.

Ivece Gerhard Adolf Zeitler Plattner, 68


Newspaper Article:

Darwin says, "The BabelFish translation is near-gibberish, so I am relying upon the submitter's description of the events."

Quando ha capito d'essere rimasto bloccato con la sua auto tra le sbarre del passaggio a livello, bastava che uscisse di corsa dall'abitacolo e si togliesse dai binari. Ne avrebbe avuto tutto il tempo tra il segnale che avverte dell'abbassamento delle sbarre e l'arrivo del treno. Ivece Gerhard Adolf Zeitler Plattner, bolzanino di 68 anni, ( andato nel panico e dal treno ) ( stato travolto. Mancavano una manciata di minuti alle 13 di ieri. Sulla strada che esce dalla zona industriale di Spini di Gardolo e si immette sulla statale del Brennero si era formata, come al solito, una lunga colonna. Auto e Tir, una dietro l'altra, attendevano che il semaforo diventasse nuovamente verde. Il bolzanino, alla guida della sua Porsche Cayenne, era fermo sui binari proprio quando sono scese le sbarre del passaggio a livello. Non dev'essersi accorto subito di quanto stava accadendo secondo il racconto dei testimoni che sostavano dietro di lui. Ha realizzato di essere in trappola quando ha scorto il treno sbucare da dietro la curva. Dopo essersi fermato a Gardolo alle 12.47, il treno era diretto a Lavis, senza fermate intermedie. In quel tratto pu) raggiungere i 90 chilometri all'ora. L'uomo s'( precipitato fuori dall'auto, ma anzich) ( sopravissuto alle gravi lesioni riportate. Il treno in frenata ha poi centrato anche la Porche Cayenne, ferma sui binari. L'ha trascinata per una decina di metri, facendola finire a lato dei binari, incastrata. La dinamica di questo incidente mortale ) ( stata ricostruita dalla squadra infortunistica della polizia municipale di Trento, che ha sentito quattro testimoni. Un quinto ) ( stato portato in ospedale, dopo aver accusato un malore per ci) che aveva visto.

Submitted on 07/23/2008

Submitted by: Joy
Reference: L'Adige (Italian daily paper) - 16/07/2008 17:50

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Such incidents involving trains and vehicles trapped at crossings are very common. However most people are smart enough to get out of the way when the train inevitably makes an appearance. Since this guy got it into his head to run towards the train and attempt to play Superman I'll gladly vote for a DA in this case. Thanks, Joy!


James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
...As if a train is just going to stop because some idiot's Porsche is about to get trashed! This fellow's priorities were definitely skewed, and he paid the price for his vanity with interest! Thanks, Joy!


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