Two killed at rail crossing

Two people are confirmed dead after their car collided with a train at a private farm crossing in Southland this morning.

The crash happened about 11.10am in the Woodlands area east of Invercargill, Senior Sergeant Richard McPhail said.

Next of kin had not yet been informed and no identifying details could be released

Mr McPhail said there was nobody else in the car and the train driver was uninjured.

Crash investigators were still at the scene today but the bodies had been removed from the vehicle.

Toll spokeswoman Sue Foley said the train driver had been stood down and offered counselling as was standard practice in such accidents.

The rail agency Ontrack was responsible for the rail network and monitoring crossings, Ms Foley said.

The crash is the second in a day involving vehicles being hit by trains.

Two people were injured at a rail crossing in the Kowai area near Springfield in central Canterbury in an accident earlier this morning.

- NZPA