Woman escapes with minor injuries as car hit by train

A woman was taken to hospital with minor injuries after a car was hit by a freight train on a level crossing in Leicestershire.

British Transport Police (BTP) said it was called to the crossing in Rearsby at about 20:35 BST on Tuesday.

Network Rail said the vehicle had become "stranded" at the crossing, and that the driver had got out of the car before the crash.

A BTP spokesperson said the woman was the only person in the vehicle, and she was taken to hospital to be assessed.

She was assisted out of the car by members of the public before emergency services arrived.

Inquiries are ongoing to establish why the vehicle was on the tracks, the spokesperson added.

Fire crews from Birstall and Melton were called, alongside a technical rescue team.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said the scene was made safe and the freight train was handed over to Network Rail when crews left the scene at 00:10 on Wednesday.

Network Rail said following inspections of the track and level crossing equipment, normal train services resumed at about 04:30 on Wednesday.

A spokesperson added: "Our teams are continuing to carry out follow-up repairs to level crossing equipment damaged in the incident, but we do not expect this work to affect train services."

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