Birmingham woman says gates never went down, Norfolk Southern Train nearly hit her

la. (WIAT) – CBS 42 is Your Voice Your Station. A Birmingham woman in the Arlington-West End neighborhood called us for help after she said she had a close call with a Norfolk Southern Train when the crossing gates never went down.

The close call happened at the tracks at 15th Place Southwest. Gladys Rancher said she was on her way to the post office when she saw the Norfolk Southern train coming.

"I didn't know whether to get out of the vehicle or leave the vehicle," Rancher said. "At that point that was going on in my mind."

On September 26, Rancher said the Norfolk Southern train was headed toward her, too close for comfort.

"Close enough for the arms to have gone down before anyone approached at that particular time because the train was coming and so the arms still never went down, and the train still passed," Rancher said.

After calling police and Norfolk Southern, she called us that same day in a panic. She said there were two people behind her – and the instinct was to back up.

"If that lady had not moved, I would have been dead," Rancher said. "I would not be talking to you all today."

When we reached out to Norfolk Southern, a spokesperson sent us a statement:

"The crossing was inspected that day and found to be working as intended."

Norfolk Southern Spokesperson

The statement went on to explain that the warning devices were triggered 28 seconds before the train reached the crossing, causing the bells and lights to activate, followed by the gate arms three to six seconds later. Norfolk Southern said the train crew was interviewed about the incident and agreed everything was working properly.

Even the day we went to visit the tracks, four seconds after the chimes, the gates went down and the train arrived 28 seconds after they go down.

The U.S. Department of Transportation said these tracks are owned by Norfolk Southern, but an Amtrak Crescent line crosses them twice a day. There are 17 trains in the day, 15 at night and six switching trains.

The Federal Railroad Administration gave us data on collisions at this crossing and it shows there have been 12 since 1975. In that time five people have been killed and six injured at this crossing.

"My family would have never known what happened to me you know? You don't know if that's your last breath," Rancher said.

She continues her fight and took it to the Arlington-West End neighborhood meeting on Tuesday. She said she will be the agent for change.

Secretary Travestine Wright said typically she's heard of people report stalled trains or folks running around the crossing gates, but she has never heard of them not going down before.

"It's certainly a safety issue and we are concerned about the safety of our residents anywhere, everywhere but especially here in West End," Wright said.

The neighborhood association is going to help Rancher take her concerns to Rep. Terri Sewell and other state representation to get her concerns addressed before someone else gets hurt.

"I just don't want it to happen again," Rancher said. "I don't want it to happen to anyone else."

By law, crossing gates are supposed to be down 15 seconds before a train comes into an intersection. Right now, the FRA is working to eliminate crossings including the one in Pelham on County Road 52 to prevent people from getting hurt.