POLICE have renewed their appeal for witnesses to a rail-line car crash which left an 11-year-old boy critically injured.

A Range Rover swerved off the snow-covered A69 on to the adjacent Newcastle-Carlisle line on Wednesday.

It was dealt a “glancing blow” from an oncoming freight train, according to police.

The boy’s mother, who was driving, and his 15-year-old brother escaped with minor injuries.

But the 11-year-old had to be airlifted 35 miles to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle with life-threatening injuries.

His condition remained unchanged last night.

Accident investigators are still trying to establish whether a second vehicle may have been involved in the crash.

Suggestions that another car may have left the scene without stopping have not yet been confirmed.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “That is what we hope witnesses may be able to help us with. We would again ask that anyone who may have seen the incident, at about 4.25pm on Wednesday, come forward and speak to us.”

It is understood the family involved in the crash come from outside the North East.

The line was closed between Carlisle and the Metrocentre at Gateshead for several hours while investigations were carried out.

The A69 between Greenhead and Haltwhistle was closed with diversions put in place via the Military Road, but both routes were open again yesterday.

Chief Inspector Peter Reeve said: “We are not ruling out any lines of enquiry as to the cause of the crash at this stage – including the weather, ice on the roads or other road users.

“We really need to hear from anyone who was on the A69 around the time of the crash, as they could have information that could really help us.”