By THERESA GARNER
A young mother died instantly and three children were injured when a train hit their car on a level crossing at Kumeu in West Auckland yesterday.
The dead woman was Lindsay Michelle Dougan, aged 24, of Kumeu.
Two of the children climbed from the wrecked car, which was flung upside-down into a ditch.
The children's father was in the car, but was uninjured, police said last night. The children, with minor to moderate injuries, were taken to Auckland Hospital.
There are no warning bells, barriers or signs at the crossing, which is over a private road that leads off State Highway 16.
Tranz Rail said last night that it was not its responsibility to put up signs.
That was the business of the road's owners.
Witness Henry Dixon said he heard the train driver toot, and looked up from State Highway 16 to see the collision.
"There was a huge bang, and the car went up in the air, about as high as the front of the train."
Police officers were among the first to reach the scene, as they were having lunch just metres away.
The train, with 40 carriages, stopped about 500m from the accident.
The driver, who was counselled by Victim Support at the scene, was stood down from duties.
Sergeant Marty Brown said he believed that the car was coming out of the private road. This afforded drivers less visibility than those turning in from the highway.
Woman killed in level-crossing smash
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