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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
World
Melissa Majors & Louisa Gregson

Car almost gets taken out by a train in the Lake District after ignoring red light

A car was mere inches from being hit by a train after the driver ignored a red light at a level crossing.

The driver of the car ignored the red light warning at the level crossing and drove directly in front of an oncoming train in the Lake District.

Network Rail have released the footage of the driver on the tracks on the Windermere branch line at Burneside in a bid to try and warn other drivers.

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The car was so close to being struck the camera angle only captures its roof as it blindly drives straight over the tracks.

The driver luckily made it across just in time without colliding with the Northern service.

The incident, which happened just after 9am on July 29, has been described by senior rail staff as one of the closest near misses they've ever seen.

Simon Shipperd, level crossing manager for Network Rail, said: “Not only did this car driver put themselves in serious danger, but they also put the train driver and passengers at risk too.

“This is careless driving on a shocking level. Our advice is simple, however tempting it is to jump the lights, don’t do it, you’re putting lives at risk.”

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: “It’s unbelievable that anyone would take such risks at level crossings.

“The potential impact of such a risk is catastrophic and it is only through good fortune that this incident did not result in something far more serious.

“It is vital that road users and pedestrians respect crossings and follow all instructions to ensure they are used safely. When people refuse to follow the rules we will continue to work with Network Rail and British Transport Police to help trace those responsible.”

After releasing the video, Network Rail has reissued its guidance on how to use level crossings safely as a driver.

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