The resulting collision could be likened to a car running over a soda can.

In this case, the demolished car was shoved several hundred feet down the tracks. The driver was injured, but was able to talk to deputies and emergency medical technicians at the scene last Thursday.

It is exactly that kind of incident that Union Pacific and Canadian National Railway, the other railroad with tracks through Webster County, hope to prevent by promoting Rail Safety Week this week.

“Everyone is responsible for rail safety and this is why CN wants you to get involved and help us save lives,” Stephen Covey, police chief and chief security officer for Canadian National Railway, said in a written statement.

“We all have a role to play in order to keep our communities safe, whether it is by acting as a role model around trains and tracks, speaking up when we witness unsafe actions or simply sharing rail safety tips with family, friends and colleagues,” he added.

The railroads are emphasizing the importance of safety at grade crossings and the dangers of trespassing on the tracks.

“National Rail Safety Week is the perfect time for families to sit down and stress the importance of being alert and distraction-free around railroad tracks,” said Connie Roseberry, assistant vice president and chief safety officer for the Union Pacific Railroad.

An organization called Operation Lifesaver used to sum up the key to railroad grade crossing safety in three words: Look, Listen, Live.

Operation Lifesaver urged drivers to look for flashing red lights, cross arms blocking the tracks and the train itself. Trains are often closer and moving faster than they appear to be.

The organization also urged drivers to listen for bells at the grade crossing, the locomotive horn and the train itself. Despite their enormous size and high horsepower, trains are quieter than many people think, according to the Union Pacific Railroad.

Walking onto tracks is trespassing, according to both the Union Pacific and Canadian National.

Even being close to the tracks is dangerous because rail cars extend three feet from either side of the tracks.

Drivers and pedestrians should know that trains can take up to a mile to stop, according to both railroads.