KEY POINTS:
A driver is understood to be in a serious condition after his car was in a collision with a train yesterday afternoon in Ohaupo, south of Hamilton.
The accident happened at a railway crossing at the intersection of Forkert Road and Sandes Street around 5pm, police said. The man, the sole occupant of the car, was taken to Waikato Hospital by ambulance.
Senior Sergeant Peter van de Wetering of the Hamilton police said the crossing did not have safety barriers.
"Our preliminary indication is that he misjudged the compulsory stop and essentially drove a little bit too far forward of the stop sign and the train collided with the car," he said.
Toll New Zealand spokeswoman Sue Foley said the driver of the freight train was not injured.
The train continued its journey with a different driver.
"My understanding is [the motorist] drove into the train and then the vehicle spun off that and then hit a power pole," she said.
"What's sad about this is we are running at about a 20-year low in terms of level-crossing accidents since we launched with Chris Cairns our whole rail safety campaign.
"We certainly feel for the family of the motorist involved.
"It's a reminder to everyone to take extra care near level crossings."
