A Yorktown man who witnessed the Metro-North crash in Valhalla one year ago says he wishes he could have done more to save the life of one of the victims.

Rick Hope was in the car directly behind Ellen Brody on Commerce Street in Valhalla when the warning gate hit the back of Brody's SUV.

"There was nobody behind me so I backed up real fast and she gets out of her car, walks over, grabs the gate, looks at me, I go back and I'm waving to her to come back, she grabs the gate, wiggles it around. And the whole time I'm thinking time is running out here, and she goes around she gets into the car and she steps on the gas and goes forward 15 feet right in front of the train," he recalls.

Hope called News 12 during the live coverage of the tragedy.

He says the sound of the impact of the train hitting Brody's car is something he will never forget.

Despite backing up and motioning for Brody to put her car in reverse, Hope says he wishes he could have done more.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell her to come back to run to me," he says.