Teacher killed after train smashes into car trapped on level crossing

Published on Monday 5 January 2009 21:05

A WOMAN has been killed by a train after desperately trying to free her car, which was trapped on an icy level crossing.

The vehicle became stranded after it skidded on to the crossing following a nearby collision with a van.

The Peterborough-Lincoln train smashed into her Rover 216 after the barriers came down at South Drove crossing, near Spalding in Lincolnshire.

The driver of the Ford Transit van, which the 30-year-old teacher's car had clipped, ran to the crossing with his passengers in a vain rescue attempt.

Sergeant Dave Kay, of Lincolnshire Police, said: "She was making frantic attempts to get off the level crossing but witnesses said it was very, very quick from when the barriers came down to the collision.

"She was trying to get her car off the level-crossing but because of the Arctic conditions, it was like a skating rink and she couldn't get very far.

"Her car skidded out of control on the sheet ice and on to the level crossing.

"Her front tyre got stuck down the side of a railway sleeper, trapping the vehicle.

"The passengers of the transit, sprinted to the crossing but could not reach the woman in time.

"She was frantically trying to free her car, moving it backwards and forwards."

Sgt Kay added: "I've seen horrific collisions like this before but never with such a unique set of circumstances that all led to the tragic accident.

"The train was running two minutes early, the passing vehicles collided and the driver narrowly avoided clearing the barrier at the side of the track.

"I don't know what was going through her head and why she didn't get out of the car.

"She may have been thinking of all the passengers on the train and selflessly tried to save them – or may not have spotted it bearing down on her."

The woman, who was wearing a seatbelt, was catapulted 40 feet by the impact.

It is understood the crash happened some 40 seconds after the level crossing barriers came down.

None of the 18 passengers on board the East Midlands Trains service were hurt, but police said the driver was badly shaken by the crash.

Network Rail said the train, which was travelling at 50mph, was not derailed and was only slightly damaged in the incident which took place shortly before 9am yesterday.

A police spokesman described road conditions in the area as "treacherous", with heavy snow falling overnight in freezing conditions.

British Transport Police said: "Initial information suggests the car entered the crossing area shortly after skidding and coming into contact with an oncoming van.

FACT BOX

THERE are some 7,600 level crossings in Britain, including about 1,500 on public roads.

They are used by 680 million vehicles each year.

A total of 14 pedestrians and people in vehicles were killed on level crossings in 2007, the last full year for which figures are available. They included three vehicle deaths, two of whom were 17-year-olds who died at Delny crossing near Invergordon. Richard Fleming, who was behind the wheel of the car involved, was jailed for five years after admitting causing their deaths by dangerous driving.

There were 11 collisions between vehicles and trains on crossings in 2007.

There were also 45 reported near-misses involving vehicles and 235 involving pedestrians on level crossings.

Safety watchdogs believe level crossings pose the greatest potential for catastrophic risk on the railways. However, deaths at crossings in Britain are low by international standards and are – among the lowest in Europe.