A train driver narrowly missed hitting an "idiotic" driver playing 'chicken' on the Totara Flat rail level crossing yesterday morning.
Police said they were still tracking down the driver of an older black Toyota saloon which was seen crossing in front of the train on the Stillwater-Westport railway line at the controlled Raupo crossing at 10.40am.
Several other similar incidents have been reported at the same crossing recently.
Police described the latest incident as "idiotic driving". Wheels were reportedly heard "screeching" as the locomotive engineer applied the brakes as a result of the car driving in front of the train.
"The near-miss goes as a warning not to play chicken with trains because you will come off second best," a Greymouth police spokesman said.
