Woman struck by train at manned level crossing (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Woman struck by train at manned level crossing

12:48pm Friday 7th September 2012 in News

A WOMAN has suffered serious head injuries after being hit by a commuter train at a manned level crossing.

The 27-year-old pedestrian was struck by Northern Rail’s 7.56 Knaresborough to Leeds Service at Belmont Crossing, Forest Lane, Harrogate , at 8am today.

North Yorkshire Ambulance Service paramedics treated the woman at the scene before taking her to Harrogate District Hospital.

A British Transport Police spokeswoman said an inquiry had been launched into how the woman got on to the track.

Network Rail said there had been no other incidents logged at crossing, which has manually controlled barriers spanning the full width of the roadway, over the last three years.

However, a spokesman said there had been a number of recent incidents where motorists had driven over the crossing while the red warning lights were flashing.

Northern Rail said the line was reopened at 9am and the train’s driver had been taken off duty immediately after the incident and offered support.