Villagers fear using level crossing after fatal crash

Residents have said they are "frightened" to use a level crossing after a woman was killed when her car was struck by a train.

Kerry Coombes, 33, died in the collision on Station Road in Hoghton, Lancashire, at 08:50 BST on 25 June, while an eight-year-old girl who was also in the car remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Preliminary evidence from rail accident investigators suggests warning systems did not activate as the train approached. Network Rail said it was "fully cooperating" with the investigation.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "Whenever a car drives past our window, we're full of fear," wondering: "Is something going to happen to that car?"

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said in its initial report the train had passed a green signal as it approached but preliminary evidence suggested the crossing's traffic lights and warning alarm had not activated, and barriers were still raised.

The resident said they no longer felt "safe going over the crossing" since the crash, avoiding it at all times.

"There's a lack of understanding of actually what happened on the day," they said, adding, "unless Network Rail come and say 'look this is what happened' we'll never feel settled at all."

Another resident, Sam, lives nearby, and said the crossing was "something we've used for years, previously, and you just assume it's all going to function, it's all going to work properly".

Now, he said, "it's definitely something we actively avoid, you don't need to use that crossing necessarily to get where you want to go".

The crossing is connected at both ends to the A675, meaning avoiding the crossing would only add a few extra minutes to people's journeys.

Sam said he felt "really sorry to the person that it happened to, the family, and what they've had to go through".

The RAIB said its independent investigation would determine the sequence of events that led to the crash, including "the actions of those involved and any factors that may have influenced them", as well as previous incidents and the management of risk at the crossing.

Chris Wright, Network Rail's North West route director, said the RAIB's initial findings were "an important step in helping us understand what happened and why".

"In addition to continuing our own investigation, we are also fully cooperating with RAIB and the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and will carefully consider any findings as they emerge and act swiftly on lessons learned."

He said there had been "no previous incidents of this nature at Hoghton level crossing", and that Network Rail had carried out "several safety checks and reviews" before reopening the crossing.

The incident involved Northern Trains' 07:51 BST Colne to Preston service.

No passengers or staff were injured.

Coombes' "heartbroken" family previously said: "Kerry was a loving daughter, sister, partner and devoted mum who meant everything to us.

"She had the biggest heart, always put other people before herself and brought so much love, laughter and kindness into the lives of everyone who knew her.

"The loss of Kerry has left a hole in our family that can never be filled."

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