Last updated at 11:43, Wednesday, 05 November 2008

POLICE believe a man killed at a level crossing drove across while the lights were flashing.

• Watch a video clip....

Title
Author
Copyright

Description

Network Rail is to look at safety measures at the site where an Ulverston man died yesterday.

The crash was the second incident this year at the Wraysholme level crossing near Flookburgh.

The man, aged 41, was killed when his car was crushed by a train and dragged 300 yards. His family was expected to identify the body this afternoon.

British Transport Police spokesman Simon Lubin said: “He seems to have driven across the crossing as the warning lights began flashing, according to two witnesses. Two dogs were removed from the car and are both OK.”

The accident, at 12.38pm yesterday, occurred on the same day that Network Rail launched a national level crossing safety campaign, which aims to warn drivers against ignoring signs.

The red Mitsubishi Carisma collided with the 9.27am Northern Rail train from Carlisle to Lancaster, and passengers described “feeling” the car being dragged under the train for 300 yards.

Keith Lumley, spokesman for Network Rail, confirmed that safety measures at the level crossing are to be investigated. He said: “Because this is a single track rural road with low usage on a low speed track with trains being two or four coaches long, it is deemed that the level of equipment is sufficient. We carried out a risk assessment in February and it was decided that the open level crossing was perfectly safe.

“There is normally good visibility. Now we have had a second incident, we will revisit the risk assessment and look to see if anything can be done.”

Passenger David Baines, who had travelled to Barrow to visit family, said he heard a huge bang as the two carriage train passed through the level crossing.

Mr Baines, from Newcastle, said: “We saw bits of wreckage flying past the window and we could feel the train grinding along the track as if something was stuck underneath it.”

Two small black dogs were rescued from the boot of the car and removed by firefighters. The animals are said to be unhurt.

Mr Baines added: “We saw the two dogs being taken away but the police had told us they didn’t hold out much hope for the driver of the car, there wasn’t much chance he could have survived an impact like that.”

The diesel train was travelling at 50mph when it collided with the five-door hatchback, but the train did not derail, which Mr Baines said was remarkable.

He said: “The train stayed upright and managed to stop but the car was still trapped underneath it.”

The Great North Air Ambulance service flew out to the scene at 1.16pm but the man had already been pronounced dead.

Sarah Booth, spokeswoman for the air ambulance service, said: “The driver was deceased when we arrived and the road crew had been checking the passengers were OK, but there was nothing the ambulance crew could do for the driver.”

Neither the train driver nor any of the 32 passengers on board were injured and they were transported to Grange by bus, where they were put on another train.

Another passenger, Kieran Rawley, 37, said the police boarded the train to check on the passengers. Mr Rawley’s father, Russ Rawley, said: “He rang us to let us know he was OK and everyone was fine and he said the fire brigade brought cutting gear to remove the car from the tracks.”

Stuart Wilson, farmer at Wyke Farm, Allithwaite, which overlooks the accident scene, did not see the crash, but became aware something had happened when an air ambulance arrived.

Mr Wilson, who was at the farm in February when a 4x4 vehicle collided with a train, has called for a barrier. He said: “This is the second time this year there has been an accident there, so the emergency services have had practice. It’s the low light on days like today that’s the problem. You can’t see the lights. It’s like having a light bulb on in the light – you can’t see it.

“They need to go back to basics and to have something there that will stop drivers. They need a drop down barrier. It’s just lights and screens at an unmanned crossing. It used to be manned for lots of years, but now it isn’t. You can see from here that the car has wrapped round it like a banana. It’s caught it on the stanchion and pushed it right along the track. When the light system was first introduced it was supposed to be 26 seconds from the amber light coming on until the train appears. Maybe it needs reviewing.”

Mr Wilson added that a vet from Archway Veterinary Practice, Grange, attended the scene to treat the two dogs that were in the car with the driver. The line was cleared from 12.30am this morning and is now open as normal. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is investigating the collision.

l SEE OUR VIEW – PAGE 8

First published at 11:47, Tuesday, 04 November 2008
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk