Trains have been the backbone of our modern world for centuries, and despite all the safety tech, a person getting struck by a moving locomotive is still a terrifying reality. In this roundup we explore 10 people who managed to cheat death after a train collided with them. From a sleepy Florida morning to a newborn’s miraculous escape in Australia, each tale shows how resilience, luck, and sometimes sheer absurdity can turn a deadly impact into a survivable story.
10 People Who Survived Getting Hit By A Train
10 Sebring, Florida
In the early hours of August 17, 2018, a 34‑year‑old woman was strolling along the tracks near Sebring, Florida, just before 5:30 a.m. when a passing train suddenly collided with her. She hadn’t seen the locomotive coming and was struck before she could react.
Amazingly, she remained conscious after the impact and was able to dial emergency services herself, describing her injuries. Almost simultaneously, the train crew called in to report that they had hit someone on the line.
Paramedics had to push through dense foliage to locate her, as she had wandered off the main road. They eventually rescued her, transported her to a trauma center, and treated her wounds. She now carries the story of that unbelievable morning for the rest of her life.
9 Eugene Barb
On the night of October 3, 2018, in Cincinnati, Ohio, 43‑year‑old Eugene Barb was wandering the tracks after a night of heavy drinking. As a train thundered toward him, Barb attempted to scramble off the rails, but the locomotive struck him before he could clear the path.
A passenger on the train reported seeing Barb dangle his legs over the rail, then disappear from view as the train approached. The passenger heard a thud – the unmistakable sound of the train hitting Barb.
When the passenger hopped off to check, he found Barb not only standing but actually walking toward him. Barb glanced back, then staggered away, still visibly intoxicated. Authorities later located him near the accident site but chose not to press trespassing charges, deeming the train strike punishment enough.
8 Darryle See
Darryle See’s encounter illustrates a common modern hazard: headphones that drown out danger. In August 2013, the 22‑year‑old was strolling on the tracks while jamming to music, completely oblivious to an oncoming train barreling at 177 km/h (110 mph).
The train struck him with such force that it hurled him roughly six meters (about twenty feet) and launched his shoes a staggering forty‑six meters (150 ft) away from his body. Though he never recalled the impact, police found him coherent and conscious when they arrived.
Aside from a handful of broken bones, See escaped serious injury, a testament to both luck and the human body’s resilience under extreme trauma.
7 The Manhattan Incident
In mid‑December 2017, an unidentified 41‑year‑old man found himself in a bizarre and violent subway scenario at Union Square, Manhattan. While standing on the platform, two assailants crossed the tracks, punched him in the head, and fled.
The assault caused the victim to tumble onto the tracks just as a southbound Q train arrived, striking his head and fracturing his skull. He bled profusely, as one would expect from such a collision.
Despite the severe injury, he survived. Police released surveillance footage of the two attackers, hoping the public could help identify and apprehend them.
6 Chicago, Illinois
In December 2018, a man stepped onto the tracks at the intersection of 71st Street and South Exchange Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, unaware of an oncoming train. The locomotive hit him, sending him crashing onto the surrounding rocks.
Bystander Terrence Sims rushed to his side. When the injured man asked, “What happened?” Sims replied, “You got hit by a train.” The man responded with a non‑committal “Nah.” Sims then called 911 and stayed with the victim until emergency responders arrived.
5 Martha Sharp
In November 2018, 36‑year‑old Martha Sharp was struck on her posterior by a train in Warsaw, Indiana. The locomotive hit the left side of her body, catapulting her away from the tracks rather than crushing her beneath the wheels.
The collision occurred at approximately 4:04 p.m. on East Fort Wayne Street. Emergency crews rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she received treatment for head lacerations caused by being flung aside by the train’s force.
4 Opole, Poland
In November 2015, a shocking CCTV clip captured a cyclist in Opole, Poland, barreling onto the tracks just as a high‑speed train thundered toward him. The cyclist’s bike collided with the locomotive, launching him violently from the saddle.
The video, posted to YouTube in December 2015, quickly amassed over a million views. Viewers were stunned to see the rider survive the impact, walking away with only bruises despite the dramatic crash.
3 Melbourne, Australia
Perhaps the most miraculous case on this list unfolded in October 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. A six‑month‑old baby, safely nestled in a stroller, was left just a hair’s breadth from the tracks when the mother glanced away for a moment.
The stroller rolled directly into the path of an oncoming train. The locomotive dragged the baby and stroller along the rails for a full thirty meters (98 ft) before finally stopping, despite the train’s notoriously long braking distance.
Amazingly, the infant survived with only a minor bump on the head. Doctors declared the child’s condition stable, recommending a good meal and a nap as the only necessary care.
2 Elijah Anderson
Four‑year‑old Elijah Anderson earned the nickname “Superman” after a November 5, 2009 incident in Atlanta. While chasing his Jack Russell terrier, Poochy, Elijah stepped onto the tracks just as a 1,594‑meter‑long (5,229 ft) train barreled toward him at 48 km/h (30 mph).
Paramedics whisked Elijah to the hospital, where he received treatment for a concussion and head stitches. Within 24 hours, his status upgraded from critical to stable, and two days later he was back home, playing with his unharmed dog.
1 Friendship Heights Station
At Washington, D.C.’s Friendship Heights Station, a woman in a motorized wheelchair approached the platform to board the Red Line. In a moment of miscalculation, she rolled beyond the safety line and onto the tracks, where an oncoming train struck her.
CCTV footage captured the harrowing moment. Station staff promptly cut power to the rails, and rescuers found the woman still alive. She was swiftly evacuated to a hospital for treatment of her injuries.
The incident caused significant service delays, but the rapid response ensured the victim survived the near‑fatal encounter.