Residents of a neighborhood near a fatal crash at a railroad crossing on U.S. 127 are hoping the tragedy is the last of its kind.

Maria Wilkes said she was sitting at the window of her home when she saw a northbound Norfolk Southern train toss a Honda Odyssey more than 20 feet, killing its driver, 55-year-old Sharon Bennett of Butler County.

Wilkes said she saw the gates coming down and initially did not see a vehicle approaching, but heard the crash.

“I looked out and I just saw the (vehicle) flippin’ over and over and it was smokin’ like crazy,” she said, emotion racking her voice.

Bennett, who failed to yield while driving on U.S. 127 just south of Jacksonburg Road, collided with the train hauling 72 loaded freight cars on its way from Atlanta to Detroit, according to Norfolk Southern spokesman Dave Pidgeon. The train, which was 6,961 feet long, weighed 5,557 tons, he said.

Investigators have not released any information about the train’s rate of speed, but Pidgeon said Norfolk Southern limits speed to 60 mph along that stretch of track.

Charles Estes, who has lived in the area since 1986, has seen a multitude of incidents and accidents at the crossing.

Saturday, he was inside his home when he heard the crash, which he said sounded “like an explosion.”

“We sit here every day thinking ‘When’s it going to happen?’ and (Saturday) it happened,” he said.

All lights and gates were working at the time of Saturday’s crash, according to Pidgeon and St. Clair Twp. Fire Chief Terry White.

However, that doesn’t always stop motorists from tempting fate, some with fatal results.

Drivers attempting to navigate a vehicle around the crossing gates is “pretty much an everyday thing,” said Estes. “Someone’s always trying to beat it.”

Wilkes said she cannot understand why people apparently are willing to risk so much in an attempt to shave a few minutes off their drive time.

“They come around that curve and … you just hear ‘em revvin’ it up and they run it like crazy,” she said. “It’s not worth it to lose your life.”

Estes said he’s considering buying a camera to record those who attempt to evade the crossing bar to show it’s frequency.

Area residents said they hope local government and law enforcement ensure some device is installed to prevent tragedy there when trains pass railroad crossings.

Until then, the message they have for impatient motorists is clear: “When the arms go down, stop,” Estes said.

“Don’t try to beat it,” added his wife, Angela of an approaching train. “It’s way bigger than you are.”