A video of the van that smashed through a level crossing in Co Galway shows a cyclist riding across the tracks seconds later.
Iarnród Éireann has released CCTV footage of the incident which left rail and road commuters stranded for an hour.
It is understood that an automated system alerted the train driver to the incident at the crossing ahead and he stopped safely several hundred metres away.
The incident happened at 7.35pm pm on Monday at the Kiltartan crossing on the N18 Ennis to Galway road north of Gort.
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CCTV footage from the crossing appears to show the white van attempting to get around the descending gates by crossing onto the other side of the road.
However, it clipped the barrier on the left side of the crossing before smashing through the automated gate on the opposite side.
The driver slows down momentarily before driving off.
Less than 10 seconds later, a cyclist rode through the crossing.
Gardaí at Gort are investigating the incident and are trying to locate the driver of the van.