BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y. --– A 32-year-old Californian whose rental car got smashed by a Metro-North train was issued a minor summons for causing the fiery crash that stranded railroad commuters for hours, according to The Journal News. Bo Bai, a computer technician from Sunnyvale who said he was merely trusting his car’s global positioning system (GPS) when he steered onto the tracks, was cited for obstructing a railroad crossing.

The railroad’s Harlem Division trains were back on schedule this morning after crews spent hours repairing more than 200 feet of the electrified “third” rail damaged by the crash.

Bai, who has been working in Fishkill, was driving west on Green Lane around 7 p.m., and told Metropolitan Transportation Authority police the GPS system instructed him to turn right as he was crossing the tracks. He was headed for the Saw Mill River Parkway, just past the tracks.

He got stuck, tried unsuccessfully to reverse and finally abandoned the 2006 Ford Focus minutes before it was slammed by a northbound Metro-North Harlem Line train.

No one was injured, but about 500 passengers were stranded for more than two hours.

Bai will be held liable for the damage to the train and track, as well as other costs and loss of revenue.
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