Trapped woman killed by train

Last Modified: 28 Mar 2008
Source: ITN

A woman has been killed by a train after getting her foot stuck as she walked across a level crossing.

Two men attempted to rescue the woman in Colchester, Essex, as a train approached at between 40mph and 50mph.

Police said the level crossing barrier was down when the woman, in her 20s, started to cross.

Her foot got trapped in between wooden railings which run parallel to the tracks at the edge of the crossing, a police spokesman said.

"A woman in her late 20s died at the scene," the spokesman said. "Two men attempted to pull her free from the crossing as the train approached."

Police said one of the men suffered "minor injuries" and needed hospital treatment.

Detective Inspector Terry Pearce of the British Transport Police praised the men who attempted to save the victim.

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 added that it had been a "harrowing" experience for the train driver and emergency services called to the scene of the incident.

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