On Saturday, January 31, 2026, a Swift Transportation semi-truck (bobtail, no trailer) became stuck on railroad tracks at Poplar Street and Airline Avenue in Gastonia, North Carolina, amid a powerful winter storm — often called a “bomb cyclone” — that dumped heavy snow and ice across the region.

A Norfolk Southern freight train struck the immobilized truck at low speed, severely damaging the cab. Miraculously, the driver escaped just before impact and was unharmed, with no injuries reported to anyone on the train.

Gastonia Police confirmed the incident, noting the hazardous conditions contributed. Viral video shows the truck trapped in snow, a bystander attempting to clear it (including with a rake in some clips), and the dramatic low-speed collision.

The storm caused widespread travel chaos, accidents, and closures. Authorities urged drivers to avoid the area and call 911 immediately if stuck on tracks to alert railroads.

A close call that thankfully ended without injury — stay safe in icy conditions!