Maketu's new Fire Chief Shane Gourlay says it is sheer luck four people were not killed after the latest collision with a freight train in his patch. Photo / File
Maketu's new Fire Chief Shane Gourlay says it is sheer luck four people were not killed after the latest collision with a freight train in his patch. Photo / File
It was only "sheer luck" that four occupants of a car that collided with a train on State Highway 2 at Paengaroa yesterday were not killed, Maketu's Fire Chief says.
The two adults and two children escaped uninjured after their car collided with a freight train at a crossing near Wilson Rd South and Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Rd about 4.44am.
The four occupants were able to get out of the car and their vehicle was moved off the tracks, a police spokeswoman said.
"It is only sheer luck that someone's family is not burying four people," Maketu Fire Chief Shane Gourlay told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend.
The level crossing was protected by barriers, alarms and lights, which had been tested and were working, a KiwiRail spokesman confirmed.
The narrow escape comes just a day after a man was killed on the tracks near Te Puke.
Police are yet to formally identify the 32-year old man who died after being hit by a freight train on the Pah Rd track, near Kaituna River Rd about 2am on Thursday.
Both incidents come on the heels of two other incidents involving vehicle collisions with trains in the district in the past four months.
Two women suffered minor injuries when their car collided with a freight train at a level crossing between Te Maunga and Te Puke on May 2, and on February 20 a woman and a child escaped serious injury when their vehicle and a train collided on the rail crossing at the intersection of Kairua Rd and SH2.
The car which collided with a freight train at a level crossing between Te Maunga and Te Puke on May 2. Photo/File
Gourlay said he attended yesterday's vehicle-train collision and the train warning lights were operating at the rail crossing which had barrier arms.
He said he had attended four train-vehicle related crashes in the past four months.
Gourlay said people should not take risks.
"People need to be very wary of trains as they can be quite lethal. These sorts of incidents take a huge toll on firefighters, police, ambulance staff, and witnesses as well."
Acting Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter from Western Bay road policing said in the latest case the train was "clearly there to be seen".
Hunter said he had attended 10-15 similar incidents involving people and trains in the past 10 years, three of which were fatalities, and it was something he would never forget.
"Attending these types of incidents take a massive toll on police and emergency services personnel and that's why it is mandatory for our staff to attend counselling."
Hunter said he could not stress enough the importance of following safety warnings.
KiwiRail chief operations manager Todd Moyle said the latest crash was a timely reminder for people to take care around trains.
"Fortunately in this case there were no injuries reported, but there are far too many injuries and deaths each year. Earlier this week there was a fatality, but that was not at a level crossing.
"While it is too early to comment on the specifics of either incident, they highlight that people need to take care around trains, whether they are in vehicles or on foot."
Moyle said there have been six collisions either on the track or at level crossings in the Bay of Plenty region so far this year, compared with five for the whole of 2017.
KiwiRail safety advice:
Stay off the tracks, only cross the line at an approved level crossing, expect trains from either direction, always slow down and be prepared to stop, wait and look.
