Miracle in Rockville
Pregnant woman didn't think to jump out of the car
Craig Melvin/WRC
A MARC train pushed Valencia's car into a crossing gate barrier in Rockville.
A 25-year-old pregnant woman and her unborn baby are doing fine after her car was struck by a MARC commuter train Friday.
Cemille Valencia, who did not want to appear on camera, told News4 that she considers herself very lucky. "I must have a couple of angels watching over me," she said.
Valencia had stopped on the railroad tracks during rush hour, but as the train approached -- and the conductor sounded his horn and tried to stop, Valencia had nowhere to go because of heavy traffic congestion, officials said.
She didn't think to jump out of the car -- although, if she had, she might have been hit by the train, Valencia said. It all happened in a matter of seconds, and when she opened her eyes after the collision, the gate arm was touching her head.
"The collision forced her car into the gate...it went from the rear windshield through the front windshield...and narrowly missed her head by a couple of inches," Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said.
Most of Valencia's injuries occured when the car's front and side airbags deployed. Valencia and her unborn baby, due on Independence Day, are doing just fine, doctors said.
No injuries were reported on the Bunswick Line train, which was carrying more than 500 passengers, who were offloaded and put on two other trains to take them to their destinations.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Posted Monday, Jul 13, 2009 - 9:55 PM EST
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