Japanese train stopped in its tracks after elderly resident leaves vegetables in its path

Passengers were surprised to hear the announcement: “The train will be delayed due to vegetables on the tracks“.

Passengers on the Odakyu Railway line were delayed on the weekend due to a scattering of potatoes left in the path of an oncoming train. The incident occurred between Yamato and Shonandai stations in Kanagawa Prefecture on Saturday, with one passenger taking several photos of the scene as it played out.

さっき起きた出来事。おじいさんが線路にジャガイモを置いて逃げて電車が止まった。運転しが拾って線路外にジャガイモを移動した。おじいさんがそのジャガイモを線路に投げた。小田急線のアナウンスは「線路内に野菜が入り込んだため遅れています。」 https://t.co/ZPOYonohQb

—
たく。 (@ta_ku_kme) June 26, 2016

▼ The pictures show at least fifty potatoes lying directly in the middle of the railway tracks in front of the train.

▼ After applying the emergency brake and stopping the train with the unusual announcement, “The train will be delayed due to vegetables on the tracks”, the diligent driver got out and carefully moved each spud away from the tracks and to the side of the railway line.

▼ The owner of the potatoes remained at the scene, waiting behind the gate at the railroad crossing. The photographer was unsure if it was a man or a woman underneath the large hat.

It remains unclear as to whether the potatoes were dropped accidentally or if they were left there deliberately. While any obstacle on the tracks is a cause for concern, Twitter users were quick to have fun with the scenario, leaving comments like:

“They must’ve wanted to make mashed potatoes”
“Has this person gone crazy with the heat?”
“Shouldn’t they be arrested for doing something like that?”
“The poor potatoes – they did nothing to deserve this!”
“I once saw an old lady pushing a stroller across a railway crossing when suddenly it tipped over and all these melons fell out.”

While the passengers were understandably annoyed by the delay, it’s lucky that no-one was hurt during the incident thanks to the attention of the experienced driver — especially the potatoes!

Source: Hamusoku
Top Image: Twitter/@ta_ku_kme

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