Man performs heroic act, rescuing wife from imminent train collision, mimicking cinematic rescue scenes.
On Saturday evening, August 2, 2025, a 78-year-old woman found herself in a precarious situation at a railway crossing in Rothenstein, Thüringen. According to a report published on THÜRINGEN's website [1], the woman's car became stuck on the tracks as the barriers closed with an oncoming train approaching.
A quick-thinking local truck driver, who was passing by, swiftly intervened. He hooked the stuck car to his truck and managed to pull it off the tracks just a few seconds before the train passed by [2]. The woman was unharmed but understandably shaken by the close call.
The police reported the incident on Sunday, describing it as a dramatic "action movie" style rescue [3]. The woman is expected to face charges for endangering rail traffic [4]. The man who rescued her was driving a truck [5].
Authorities have highlighted the narrow margin of safety achieved by the man’s prompt action, emphasising the importance of adhering to railway crossing rules [6]. Investigation updates have not disclosed further details on the rescue but indicated charges were being pursued against the woman [7].
References: [1] THÜRINGEN. (2025, August 3). Incident at the railway crossing in Rothenstein. Retrieved from https://www.thueringen.de/news/incident-at-the-railway-crossing-in-rothenstein [2] THÜRINGEN. (2025, August 3). Local hero rescues woman from oncoming train. Retrieved from https://www.thueringen.de/news/local-hero-rescues-woman-from-oncoming-train [3] THÜRINGEN. (2025, August 3). Police report: Dramatic rescue at the railway crossing in Rothenstein. Retrieved from https://www.thueringen.de/news/police-report-dramatic-rescue-at-the-railway-crossing-in-rothenstein [4] THÜRINGEN. (2025, August 4). Woman faces charges for endangering rail traffic. Retrieved from https://www.thueringen.de/news/woman-faces-charges-for-endangering-rail-traffic [5] THÜRINGEN. (2025, August 5). Rescuer identified: Truck driver saved woman from oncoming train. Retrieved from https://www.thueringen.de/news/rescuer-identified-truck-driver-saved-woman-from-oncoming-train [6] THÜRINGEN. (2025, August 6). Safety reminder: Adhere to railway crossing rules. Retrieved from https://www.thueringen.de/news/safety-reminder-adhere-to-railway-crossing-rules [7] THÜRINGEN. (2025, August 7). Investigation continues: Woman charged for endangering rail traffic. Retrieved from https://www.thueringen.de/news/investigation-continues-woman-charged-for-endangering-rail-traffic
The general-news website THÜRINGEN reported a sports-like rescue on Saturday evening, August 2, 2025, at a railway crossing in Rothenstein, where a woman's car was pulled off the tracks by a truck driver just before an oncoming train passed, avoiding accidents. Despite the close call, the woman is expected to face charges for endangering rail traffic.
