Woman dies after getting stuck on train tracks

By Nick Allen and Lucy Cockroft Last Updated: 1:13am GMT 29/03/2008

A woman was killed after one of her Ugg boots got stuck on a railway crossing and she was hit by a train.

The crossing where a woman was hit by a train after her Ugg boots got stuck Local residents said that the crossing was dangerous and people often slipped through the barrier before the train arrived

Two men, including her boyfriend, made a desperate attempt to pull her free as the train approached but had to jump clear before they got her to safety.

The 29-year-old woman, whose first name was Kelly, was trying to get over a crossing to a Tesco superstore when her foot became stuck between wooden slats.

Jonathan Smith, 18, an IT student, described how the woman and her boyfriend tried to cross after the barrier was down at Hythe railway station in Colchester, Essex.

Mr Smith, who had been waiting to cross, said: "She got her foot stuck. I saw the train coming and I just thought, I've got to save her. advertisement

"I went through and grabbed her hand and got her foot out. I had her in my arms, she was safe."

But he said the woman then tried to get to the other side to join her boyfriend and was hit.

Mr Smith said: "She just curled up in a ball. I tried to help her but I slipped on the wet.

"I was still holding her hand when the train came."

The woman's distraught father, who refused to give his name, visited the scene and told onlookers: "Her Ugg boots got stuck."

The 6.38pm National Express service from Liverpool Street, London, to Clacton, Essex, was travelling at up to 50mph as it approached the station.

Local residents said that the crossing was dangerous and people often slipped through the barrier before the train arrived.

Matt Wilson, who was on the train, said: "It's awful.

"I was in the first carriage. There was no warning, the driver slammed on the brakes.

"It is such a dangerous crossing. People chance it all the time. They just push back the barrier and run over. I've done it before - loads of people do it."

Police said the incident was not being treated as suspicious.

The line was shut for four hours and passengers had to climb off the train on emergency ladders.

Det Insp Terry Pearce, from British Transport Police, praised the efforts of Mr Smith and the woman's boyfriend.

He said: "This was a very valiant effort. They were very brave and we are very grateful not to be looking at two deaths or maybe even three."

He said the train driver had blared his horn and slammed on the brakes but was unable to stop in time.

"Certainly, in this instance, the driver actually sees something at the very last minute and tries his best but because of the momentum of the train he is unable to stop in time," he said. "It was a harrowing experience for him and a harrowing experience for the witnesses.

"There have been various incidents over the last few years of deaths happening on level crossings. If a level crossing is treated correctly, accidents like this won't happen."

Police said one of the men trying to rescue the woman suffered minor injuries and was taken to Colchester General Hospital.

Submitted on 03/30/2008

Submitted by: Mark
Reference:

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James said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
More details on this rather tragic affair. It would seem that the woman was hell bent on joining her boyfriend even as she was being pulled to safety in the opposite direction. Thanks, Mike!

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Thanks for the additional details, Mark!