Four escape injury as Metro collides with car

Mar 26 2007 By The Journal

An investigation was underway yesterday after a Metro hit a car at a level crossing.

Two adults and two children escaped serious injury after their car spun round after being struck by a Metro train at the crossing as it headed towards Newcastle International Airport.

Emergency services were called to the incident near Callerton Parkway station at 9.50am on Saturday after the two vehicles collided.

It is believed the occupants of the blue Volkswagen Passat only avoided serious injury after the 47-year-old driver from Cramlington, Northumberland, braked suddenly as he approached the crossing.

All four people - two adults and two teenagers - and all the passengers on the train were uninjured. But yesterday an investigation was underway to establish how the collision had happened at the crossing, which is not protected by a barrier.

In 2002, former Newcastle United player Andy Griffin had a lucky escape after his £60,000 Porsche collided with a train.

The defender, who now plays for Portsmouth, also walked away without serious injury.

The crossing is one of nearly 8,000 in the UK that has no safety barriers, relying on lights to warn motorists of approaching trains.

A spokesman for Metro operator Nexus said: "We have no plans to put barriers at any of our crossings. They all have very clear signs and lights to warn motorists. The safety record of the Metro system is very good and people should be assured that this type of accident is very rare."

Nexus's head of external affairs Huw Lewis added: "The train would have just pulled out of the station so it would have been moving very slowly on the way towards the airport.

"There was a handful of passengers on board the Metro train and thankfully they were all able to walk away on foot."

According to Network Rail statistics, one person a month dies at level crossings in the UK. The vast majority of accidents - 96% - are caused by driver error or pedestrians not taking care.

Anyone with information on this incident should contact motor patrols at Etal Lane police station on 0845 604-3043.