Florida Man Jumps Out Of Stolen Car Seconds Before Oncoming Train Hits It

A Florida man jumped out of the stolen car he was driving seconds before it was hit by an oncoming train, which eventually sent the vehicle flying through the air and crashing into a nearby house. The sleeping occupants of the residence were lucky to escape unhurt.

Deputies said the man, identified as Bradford Weitzel, 38, claimed he stole the car "in good faith" to locate his own vehicle, which he couldn't find after leaving a local bar.

Weitzel was arrested on charges of grand theft and criminal mischief, The Martin County Sheriff's Office said in a statement released via Facebook. He is expected to face more charges.

"38-year old Bradford Weitzel, of Port St. Lucie, told Martin County Sheriff's Detectives that he couldn't find his car after leaving a Martin County bar early this morning, so he stole one in a good faith effort to locate his own," authorities noted in the post. "He said he somehow ended up on the train tracks along Indian River Drive."

Weitzel allegedly claimed that the car died on him on the tracks and a train inched closer. He said he leaped clear of the car before the train yanked it into the air and sent it crashing into the house.

"Within seconds, the train hit the car, catapulting it into a nearby home where the homeowners were sound asleep," police said, as per the statement. "Fortunately, they were not physically injured, although the explosive sound of a driverless car smashing into the side of their home was clearly jolting."

After the crash, Weitzel tried to steal a forklift from a nearby fruit stand, which he vandalized, SF Gate reported. He also flagged down responding authorities "to let them know he was still looking for his car," according to the statement.

The homeowners were doing fine but "the explosive sound of a driverless car smashing into the side of their home was clearly jolting," the statement added.

It remains unclear if Weitzel obtained a legal representation. Further information related to the incident wasn't immediately available.