A woman killed at a Taranaki railway crossing when her car was hit by a train driven by her partner was today named as Wendy Collins.
Ms Collins, 44, of Normanby, South Taranaki, died yesterday when her car was hit about 2.50pm at Eltham, police said in a statement.
She was killed
instantly when the train hit the car around the driver's door and carried it 100m up the track.
There were no suspicious circumstances and the matter would be referred to the coroner, police said.
Police were continuing an investigation along with Tranz Rail and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).
Eltham police Senior Constable Chris Glen said lights and bells had been on at the crossing and the train driver was sounding the horn.
Tranz Rail said today the crossing lights and bells had been working correctly.
"We have never had a complaint about the crossing," a spokeswoman told NZPA.
Resident Tania Nicholls said yesterday some drivers had become complacent about the crossing because the warning lights and bells often went while trains were doing shunting work farther up the track.
People got sick of waiting and often crossed despite the bells if they knew a train was not coming.
- NZPA
