Rail operator begs motorists to take care after death

Rail operator Toll is pleading with motorists to take extra care at level crossings following the death of a driver whose car collided with a train in North Canterbury last night.

A 44-year-old North Canterbury man was killed when he became trapped in the burning wreckage of his car after the smash at a rail crossing near Sefton, about 6.30pm.

His two children, a son, aged 12 and daughter, 10, suffered moderate injuries.

It was the second crash at a level crossing in the Canterbury region in two days. On Thursday afternoon a truck and trailer was split in two when hit by a train on a rail crossing in the Christchurch suburb of Redwood.

A woman in a car was injured when the front part of the truck rolled onto its side and on top of her vehicle.

Toll spokeswoman Sue Foley said yester day's fatal smash was at an intersection controlled only by a stop sign.

The 160 passengers on board the southbound TranScenic train from Picton to Christchurch were offered support and bused from the scene to Christchurch.

"It's a terrible, terrible thing to happen, especially at this time of year," she said.

The company made a plea to motorists: "Just please take extra care. We do not want any further tragedies on our rail network".

A fully laden train took 1500m to stop, Ms Foley said.

"There's nothing a driver can do."

Sergeant Rene Pabst, of Rangiora, said the car in the crash had failed to stop at a marked intersection.

"The car bounced off the train and came down into the side of the rail line. We're not sure if the man has died of injuries from hitting the train, or as a result of the fire. It's lucky we have not got two kids (deceased) as well," Mr Pabst said.

- NZPA