A man narrowly escaped being struck by an oncoming train as he walked across a West Broad Street railroad crossing in Tamaqua at 9:22 p.m. Sunday.

Reading & Northern Railroad Police posted footage of the near collision and asked for the public’s help in identifying the man.

According to the post, the man disregarded the descended crossing gates as a train approached with its headlights activated.

“The male had a near miss with the train and thankfully the train crew were able to place the train into emergency to stop,” according to the railroad’s post.

The railroad notes that the man may have been wearing headphones.

Footage of the incident near the Five Points intersection shows the man slow his pace before the crossing. He then runs across the train tracks as the train nears. The train is brought to a stop, and a person on the engine appears to signal to the man, who runs across a parking lot and onto Center Street.

Anyone with information on the man’s identity is asked to contact railroad police at 570-943-5027.

“We would like to talk to him and understand what the reasoning was for this incident,” the railroad posted.

Railroad police asked that all “pay attention” and not ignore activated crossing gates.

“They are there for a purpose and can save lives if not ignored. Whenever you are around railroad tracks, please remember to remove any headphones to make sure you can hear the approach of a train,” railroad police said.