Video: Man lets empty car roll over closed railway crossing
The moment a man fleeing from police jumped out of his car and left it to roll over a railway crossing with an oncoming train approaching was caught on camera.
Ricky McGrath, 22, was trying to flee police in a car chase after they spotted him overtaking at speeds of up to 70mph in a 30mph zone.
He arrived at a railway crossing at Watlington Station, where he vacated his car, ran over the train tracks, and left the Audi to limp over behind him under the descending barrier just 65ft in front of a train that was about to leave the platform.
The car just cleared the tracks and came to a stop under the far side barrier.
McGrath of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, admitted dangerous driving, endangering rail passengers and aggravated vehicle taking, and was jailed for 22 months after the hearing at Norwich Crown Court on Thursday.
As well as being banned from driving for three years, he also admitted escaping from custody after fleeing the dock during his first hearing after arrest.
A First Capital Connect spokesman told the Daily Mail: "Luckily no-one was hurt. But this man's reckless action could have caused a major accident, injuring or claiming the lives of scores of people."
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