A bungling tanker driver narrowly escaped being smashed by a train after getting trapped between the barriers at a level crossing.
The lorry was stranded on the tracks as the barriers came down with the train hurtling towards it.
Dramatic footage showed another lorry driver jumping out of his cab and rushing to help as the tanker appeared trapped by one of the barriers.
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The vehicle finally cleared the crossing moments before the train passed through.
The incident happened near Poznań Wola railway station in Poznań, Poland, at around 5pm on Monday (26 Oct).
The 31-year-old Ukrainian tanker driver had entered the crossing despite heavy traffic leaving no room for him to reach the other side.
As the warning lights came on and the barriers began to descend, the tanker became trapped.
The driver eventually managed to drive off the tracks, damaging a barrier and its operating mechanism in the process.
Rail operator PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe said the train driver and railway dispatcher activated the Radio-Stop emergency signal after the danger became apparent.
The system allows trains in the affected area to be stopped in an emergency.
More than 20 trains were delayed as a result of the incident, including knock-on disruption to other services, as reported by Need To Know.
The tanker was carrying agricultural fertiliser, which police said was not classified as a hazardous substance.
The driver later went to a police station with his employer, and officers seized his driving licence.
Prosecutors charged him with causing a direct danger, but he denied the allegation when questioned.
PKP PLK said it intended to seek compensation from the driver for the damaged railway equipment and disruption to train services.
The rail operator also issued a safety warning, reminding motorists not to enter a level crossing unless there is enough space to clear the tracks safely.
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