Quick-thinking locals leapt into action to shove a stranded car off a railway crossing just moments before a train came hurtling towards it.
A couple travelling with a child in the back became trapped on the level crossing after their vehicle’s wheels got stuck in loose stones and gravel.
Realising the car couldn’t move forwards or backwards, passers-by sprinted to help in a desperate bid to avoid disaster.
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Dramatic CCTV footage shows the group lifting the front of the car to free the jammed wheels from the rubble.
They then heaved the vehicle over the steel rail and pushed it clear of the track.
The driver managed to reverse away from the crossing just as the locomotive approached.
The train operator reportedly spotted the danger further down the line and slowed to a near stop while repeatedly sounding the horn.
The heart-stopping near miss happened in Duitama, north-west of Bogotá, Colombia, on Saturday (21 Feb).
The freight train passed through without further incident and none of the car’s occupants were reported injured.
Following the scare, locals called on municipal authorities to improve safety at the open crossing, as reported by Need To Know.
Residents are demanding automatic barriers, clearer warning signs and increased monitoring to prevent a potential tragedy in future.
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