For good reason, many railroad crossings in the United States are marked with flashing lights and movable barriers. However, if you ignore the barriers and lights, you could find a world of pain. Just as a Toyota Prius driver found out at a Miami, Florida train crossing.

Social media videos show a Florida commuter train smashing through a Toyota Prius after it tried to drive across the tracks

The Brightline is a Florida-based high-speed commuter train from Tampa to Miami and back. It cruises through Orlando, West Palm Beach, and Boca Raton, giving commuters an alternative to driving with the traffic of busy cities. 

However, the quick-moving train covers around 235 miles of the Sunshine State with hundreds of potentially dangerous railroad crossings. A popular video revealed just how dangerous those crossings can be after a Toyota Prius tried to slip over the tracks.

A video of the event shows the Prius attempting the daring, albeit foolish crossing. The flashing lights are plainly visible in the video and the barriers are down. Despite the obvious hindrances, the Toyota hybrid zooms under the barrier at a Miami railroad crossing.

The Prius seems to be moving fast enough to escape harm. But it was no match for the Brightline commuter train. The train flies across the intersection, striking the passenger-side rear quarter panel of the blue Toyota Prius. Of course, the impact of the train tearing by sent the Prius spinning and irreparably damaged. 

Even with bright flashing lights and moving barriers, drivers sometimes risk crossing as a train approaches. Now, Brightline’s average speed of nearly 70 mph is subpar for a modern, high-speed rail (HSR) option. 

However, it’s quick enough to cause serious damage to a car attempting to slip across the tracks after the barriers come down. It’s a lesson the Toyota Prius driver learned all too well.

Incidentally, internet commenters were less than kind with their responses. One viewer crudely responded, “We should all thank Brightline for assisting with natural selection!” Other people speculated about how the driver could have missed the barriers. A viewer responded, “Drunk?” Either way, that driver likely won’t make that mistake again.