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| One dead in level crossing crash in Athelney, Somerset | One dead in level crossing crash in Athelney, Somerset |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| One person died when a train hit a car on a level crossing in Somerset. | One person died when a train hit a car on a level crossing in Somerset. |
| The crash happened at about 06:30 GMT on the Stanmoor Road crossing near Athelney, on the line between Taunton and Castle Cary. | The crash happened at about 06:30 GMT on the Stanmoor Road crossing near Athelney, on the line between Taunton and Castle Cary. |
| Network Rail said initial reports suggested the the barrier was lowered and the driver tried to weave around it in order to cross. | |
| First Great Western and Network Rail said no train passengers were injured in the crash. | |
| Network Rail confirmed that the train was not derailed and that it was hoping to move it just after 11:00. The line is expected to re-open at 15:00. | |
| Fire crews are at the scene to remove the vehicle from the track. | |
| John Baker from Network Rail said: "The 05:46 train from Exeter St Davids to Paddington has hit a car on the automatic half-barrier level crossing in Athelney - there is one fatality." | John Baker from Network Rail said: "The 05:46 train from Exeter St Davids to Paddington has hit a car on the automatic half-barrier level crossing in Athelney - there is one fatality." |
| 'Worst thing' | 'Worst thing' |
| Dan Panes, from First Great Western, said: "This is pretty much the worst thing that can every happen to one of our train drivers. | Dan Panes, from First Great Western, said: "This is pretty much the worst thing that can every happen to one of our train drivers. |
| "There is very little you can do if something appears on the track in front of you - these trains take a long time to stop. " | "There is very little you can do if something appears on the track in front of you - these trains take a long time to stop. " |
| He said 37 passengers remained on board as it was a "live railway line in the middle of a police investigation". | He said 37 passengers remained on board as it was a "live railway line in the middle of a police investigation". |
| He said as soon as emergency services give the all-clear, the customers will be able to leave the train. | He said as soon as emergency services give the all-clear, the customers will be able to leave the train. |
| He added: "We're hoping we'll be able to get the train on the move as quickly as possible which will remove the blockage to the line". | |
| 'Almighty bang' | 'Almighty bang' |
| Aaron Mead, who lives 100 yards from the scene, said he heard an "almighty bang". | Aaron Mead, who lives 100 yards from the scene, said he heard an "almighty bang". |
| "A couple of pictures on the bedside table fell over," he said. | "A couple of pictures on the bedside table fell over," he said. |
| "Before we knew it we had endless amounts of sirens - police cars, fire engines and ambulances bombing up and down the road." | "Before we knew it we had endless amounts of sirens - police cars, fire engines and ambulances bombing up and down the road." |
| Stanmoor Road remains closed in both directions at the Cuts Road junction. | Stanmoor Road remains closed in both directions at the Cuts Road junction. |
| British Transport Police said the accident was not being treated as suspicious. | British Transport Police said the accident was not being treated as suspicious. |
| Network Rail said the level crossing was not deemed as "high-risk", as it is on a quiet road with little traffic. | Network Rail said the level crossing was not deemed as "high-risk", as it is on a quiet road with little traffic. |
| The firm added that engineers would be checking whether the crossing barriers and lights were functioning properly at the time of the accident. | The firm added that engineers would be checking whether the crossing barriers and lights were functioning properly at the time of the accident. |
| A limited bus replacement service is in place between Taunton and Westbury in both directions, calling at Castle Cary. | A limited bus replacement service is in place between Taunton and Westbury in both directions, calling at Castle Cary. |
| A First Great Western spokesman said the two drivers on the train were both shocked by what happened. | A First Great Western spokesman said the two drivers on the train were both shocked by what happened. |