Crossing crash victim named

We are getting reports that a train has hit a car on a level crossing in Sandy Lane in Yarnton in Oxfordshire.

Latest ITV News reports

Transport police issue new statement after rail crash

Police on scene of crash Credit: ITV Meridian

“BTP officers were called to Sandy Lane level crossing, Yarnton, Oxfordshire, after a car was struck by a train.

“BTP and Thames Valley Police officers were called to the incident, which was reported to BTP at 3.40pm.

“South Central Ambulance Service medics also attended.

"It is believed two people were in the vehicle, a blue Renault Kangoo, at the time. Sadly one of them, a man believed to be the passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The driver of the vehicle has been taken to a local hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

“The train involved was a Trafford Park to Southampton freight service, and the train driver is reported to be shaken but uninjured. The driver pulled the emergency brake but was unable to stop in time.

“Officers are working to establish the full circumstances including how the car came to be on the tracks at the time.

“The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been informed.”

Advertisement

Michael Crick: Rail source 'knew crash was going to happen'

A man killed at a level-crossing in Yarnton, Oxfordshire, today may have been the victim of technical problems which have beset the crossing for years, according to Channel 4 reporter Michael Crick.

He says a contact within the rail industry told him "I just knew this was going to happen."

The man, who was in a car, was killed by a freight train at the Sandy Lane crossing just north of Oxford and south of Kidlington.

The location is in the Prime Minister's constituency of Witney.

According to Crick's source, the crossing has had technical problems for a long time.

There's been an on-going fault for four years. The Network Rail maintenance team have not been able to fix it. The barrier arms stay down much longer than they should do.

"This means that during busy periods, queues of traffic build up on either side of the line.

"So if there is a case where a freight train, say, quickly follows a passenger train then the queue of cars may not have been cleared before the barriers come down again."

– Railway industry source

It's not clear whether the long-standing fault is responsible for today's fatal accident, but Crick's source says he would not be surprised if it was.

"This fault has been on-going for donkey's years. No one seems to want to fix it, or to know how to fix it. I knew this was going to happen."

Train crash death - first pictures

Police have confirmed reports that a train has hit a car on a level crossing in Yarnton, Oxfordshire. Credit: ITV

A man has been killed after a train hit a car on a level crossing in Yarnton, Oxfordshire.

Emergency services are currently on the scene with other rail services delayed.

The incident has occurred at a spot where a new "camera van" has recently been deployed to catch drivers speeding across the crossing.

Police have confirmed reports that a train has hit a car on a level crossing in Yarnton, Oxfordshire. Credit: ITV

Advertisement

Train crash death - police statement

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: “BTP officers were called to Sandy Lane level crossing, Yarnton, Oxfordshire, after a car was struck by a train.

“BTP and Thames Valley Police officers were called to the incident, which was reported to BTP at 3.40pm.

“South Central Ambulance Service medics also attended. It is believed two people were in the vehicle at the time. Sadly one of them, a man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The train involved was a Trafford Park to Southampton freight service, and the driver is reported to be shaken but uninjured.

“Officers are working to establish the full circumstances including how the car came to be on the tracks at the time.”

One man dead in train crash

Transport police have confirmed reports that a train has hit a car on a level crossing in Yarnton, Oxfordshire. Emergency services are currently on the scene with other rail services delayed.

One man is now believed to have died in the incident.

It happened at a spot where a high-tec "camera van" has recently been deployed to catch drivers speeding across the crossing.

The van allows British Transport Police officers to keep a close eye on crossings where drivers and pedestrians are known to gamble on beating the barriers.

Load more updates