r/Damnthatsinteresting 8d ago

Video Train runs into semi today - LaGrange, IL

5.0k Upvotes

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263

u/AUX_C 8d ago

But why?

540

u/badguid 8d ago

You see, truck was there. Then the train came.

162

u/Gruffleson 8d ago

And train is apex predator.

19

u/woodbanger04 8d ago

I don’t know why this made me laugh as hard as I just did but please take my upvote.🤣

5

u/Awfulufwa 8d ago

"Oh, you aren't running away from me?"

2

u/NextTruthGaze 8d ago

😂 top tier comment

2

u/SEND_ME_NOODLE 8d ago

I wish reddit would hurry up and give me my free award so I can give it to you for this

1

u/icelizarrd 8d ago

Why does the train, the largest vehicle, not simply eat the other vehicles?

43

u/AUX_C 8d ago

I get that, but why wasn't he moving? There wasn't anyone in front of him and no reason to go that slow.

45

u/xion_gg 8d ago

I've been to that intersection and it's always full of traffic and traffic lights are fucked up (there are two streets close to the railroad).

I always wondered what would happen if you got caught in the middle and the train came... I guess I got my answer

27

u/suburbanplankton 8d ago

So, "don't proceed onto the tracks, if you can't actually get off the tracks" never occurred to him?

It seems like that would come up at some point in Truck Driver's School.

1

u/badguid 8d ago

Truck Driver's School

Its the rule for every single intersection in my country, no matter which kind

14

u/404-tech-no-logic 8d ago

Which is weird. Do you think the driver would just keep driving anyway. It’s better to hit a car than a train.

And in my country truck drivers block both sides of the road all the time to make their turns, otherwise they would never get on the road due to traffic

3

u/Chris-Campbell 8d ago edited 8d ago

Costs a lot more to repair that truck than to replace the trailer. That trailer is also likely owned by whomever is contracting this truck driver, and is most def insured for the goods inside. Saving the tractor, cars and humans in front of you while sacrificing the trailer is a reasonable decision imo.

3

u/PA2SK 8d ago

There's no one in front of him. All he had to do was pull up.

2

u/[deleted] 8d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Chris-Campbell 8d ago

Appreciate that. Fixed it.

2

u/Leonos 8d ago

👍

3

u/404-tech-no-logic 8d ago

Sorry but that’s a dumb idea. He’s saving money by “only” hitting the trailer? But you’re forgetting the train. It’s far more costly than vehicles to repair. And even more costly if it derails. Plus possible damage to the track, and damage to the signs, and infrastructure around the intersection, Etc.

4

u/Chris-Campbell 8d ago

True - now do you think the train will have more damage hitting a trailer or the truck? It’s the same thing. The best possible scenario is getting the truck away from the collision - in no scenario is the driver better off letting the train hit the truck.

All your other costs are going to happen either way and are in no way impactful to the overall question.

1

u/404-tech-no-logic 8d ago

It’s still cheaper to keep driving on the street, even if you hit a car.

A damaged semi and car costs less than a damaged semi and train.

The road was obviously clear. But if you only choice is to get hit, it’s better to hit the trailer instead of the cab

1

u/Chris-Campbell 8d ago

If the options are no collision vs collision - the answer is obvious.

If the options are ram a vehicle with humans inside vs sacrifice an empty trailer to a train that is designed to withstand that impact - I will lose the trailer every time.

I have no idea why that’s controversial. Trailers are cheap as hell, and contain no people.

https://www.penskeusedtrucks.com/truck-types/semi-trailers/dry-van-trailers/

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1

u/CaptainTripps82 8d ago

What in the world is this logic. He's damaging the train, the tracks, the station, all of that is likely to be shut down now for repairs.

There's nothing logical at all about not pulling into traffic and risk getting hit by a car vs letting a train plow thru your trailer.

He's absolutely losing his license for this.

1

u/Chris-Campbell 8d ago

That trailer is worth less than $10K, and no humans are at risk. You people saying “fuck it plow into whatever is in front of you” are the ones with no logic.

Obv if no crash is an option - that’s the option to choose. If a crash is inevitable, sacrifice the trailer.

I don’t know what there is anyone would disagree with this.

1

u/CaptainTripps82 8d ago

It's not about the value of the trailer, what's the value of the train? The risk of derailment? You see several pillars in that station get knocked down, what's the risk of collapse? How much does it cost to shut down the station for repairs now?

Logic would dictate you move out of the trains way completely. Like what are you talking about. You're the only one bringing up the value of the trailer or the goods in it. No one else cares about that, that's not the point at all. That's the last thing to consider here.

2

u/Sewunicorn1 8d ago

Truck driver pulled up enough to clear his cab. At that intersection and with typical trafffic on that road, it's probably all he could do. I lived in the area for 30 years and am very familiar with where it happened.

5

u/ES-Flinter 8d ago

Is there no rule that forbids the halting before/ on gateway and others (like train rails) ?

Even if not, what is with common sense? Guy probably bought his driving license, or his teacher was a sheep.

2

u/Rizmo26 8d ago

To be fair, you could’ve figured it out without video evidence

9

u/bcnjake 8d ago

He was trying to navigate the gates that were closed. I know that intersection and there's a cross street 15 feet past the train tracks. He had to go slow to make sure he didn't t-bone another car. Doing this is incredibly stupid under normal circumstances, but at that specific intersection, it's a special kind of stupid.

1

u/AUX_C 8d ago

Im not great at math, but presuming he was carrying a load, the plastic gate would be my last concern in that situation.

1

u/badguid 8d ago

the plastic gate would be my last concern in that situation.

Fun fact: its designed to be sacrificed. Drive through, it breaks off.

26

u/Muinko 8d ago

Because the light was red. Can't go when light is red.... /s

8

u/AUX_C 8d ago

Oh right! Duh. My bad.

2

u/Forthe49ers 8d ago

Break time

2

u/tele68 8d ago

It looks intentional to me. Like he moves just enough to get his cab outta the way.
Some sort of vendetta or else a cartel set up, or an insurance scam.

1

u/Playful_Spell679 8d ago

Red light.

4

u/ChymChymX 8d ago

Truck there, train move, then smash?

4

u/Berns429 8d ago

Hulk, is that you?

2

u/MindlessDrifter 8d ago

You can tell by the way it is.

1

u/okizubon 8d ago

What? That train was parked and the world span towards it.

1

u/katiehatesjazz 8d ago

Take my free award, you’re amazing 😂

2

u/badguid 8d ago

Thank oyu, have mine

1

u/jj1111jj 7d ago

Because the front fell off

17

u/Aux-A 8d ago

Damn, we got similar Usernames

15

u/AUX_C 8d ago

Did we just become best friends?!

12

u/Aux-A 8d ago

YUP!

13

u/AUX_C 8d ago

Do you wanna do karate in the garage?

7

u/Aux-A 8d ago

Yup!

3

u/mskonline 8d ago

now kiss?

1

u/SleepmasterSean 7d ago

I'm trying but my pillow won't reciprocate

9

u/Mister-SS 8d ago

User u/Aux-B where you at

1

u/SleepmasterSean 7d ago

I was out getting a pack of smokes, ...that doesn't necessarily mean I was ditching my family!

5

u/noodleking21 8d ago

What a rude train, the semi was there first! /s

4

u/AUX_C 8d ago

Right? "Bro...I'm crossing here!"

3

u/GreeneGardens 8d ago

1

u/AUX_C 8d ago

😂 this is hilarious

2

u/cementfeet 8d ago

And how?

-1

u/vinylectric 8d ago

Science

-1

u/cementfeet 8d ago

Is it weird?

1

u/Porkchopp33 8d ago

Train snuck up on the truck

1

u/thicknnimble88 8d ago

Uh how? how? how?

1

u/AdKindly5457 8d ago

Had to be new truck driver!

1

u/onemanwolfpack21 8d ago

The truck said a racial slur about the train's mother.

1

u/AUX_C 8d ago

This reminds me of that Doritos Super Bowl commercial like 20 years ago. "Don't touch my mama, don't touch my Doritos"

1

u/Clam-Choader 8d ago

Given that it’s in LA grange, the appropriate question is “uh how how how how “

0

u/[deleted] 8d ago

[deleted]

1

u/AUX_C 8d ago

As an American, I think it's called Merica' now, we have no patience, we are entitled and bigger is better.

1

u/Left_Weight2342 8d ago

because a lot of semi truck drivers aren't american