KEY POINTS:
A man who died when he was hit by a train at a level crossing in Taranaki last night was outside of his vehicle at the time, police say.
A Stratford police spokeswoman today confirmed the man was not in his car as the train bulldozed the car killing him.
The spokeswoman said police were still trying to identify the man believed to be in his mid-to-late 30s or early 40s.
The crash happened Eltham about 8pm at a crossing unmarked by lights or bells.
The southbound train travelled between 200m and 300m from the point of impact but the train driver was uninjured.
An investigation has been launched into the cause of the accident and the police serious crash unit would be examining the car today, police said.
Last night's crash was the second fatal level crossing crash within a week and the third in a month.
Last Saturday Renee and Brent Coombes, of Newlands, Wellington, were killed when their car was hit by a train at a crossing in Ohingaiti, Rangitikei. Their five year old daughter Reef survived the crash.
It is thought sun-strike may have been a factor.
In mid-June 20-year-old Keeley Jamieson and her brother Ryan, 22, died when their car collided with a train on a level crossing near Te Puke in the Bay of Plenty.
Rail Safety Week kicks off on Monday, with events promoting rail safety taking place across Australia and in New Zealand.
The key message in this country will be that tracks are for trains, and pedestrians and motorists need to take extreme care at crossings.
- NZPA
