KEY POINTS:
A car involved in a collision with a train near Pukekohe which killed a 4-year-old boy and injured his three sisters was on the wrong side of the road at the time of impact.
Police serious crash investigators yesterday said that they knew the car was in the wrong place - and that one of the children was flung from the car after the impact - possibly as far as 22m.
Officers are working their way through "conflicting" witness statements reporting that the car, being driven by the father, was driving around the barrier arms or that it was stopped at the time of the smash.
Constable Steve Carey of the Counties Manukau serious crash unit said it could be weeks before police knew exactly what had happened.
However, some details were certain through forensic evidence at the scene.
"It's been on the incorrect side of the road when it's come across the railway crossing," he said.
Mr Carey said he was not certain which of the children had been thrown from the wreck.
The silver Mitsubishi Cyborg was making a left turn from State Highway 22 into Crown Rd, Paerata, when a train heading south ploughed into its rear passenger's side at 4.20pm yesterday.
Mr Carey said the impact spun the car around several times, forcing it into the barrier as it spun, before stopping on grass past the railway tracks.
Police were not sure if the child was thrown from the vehicle on impact, or as the vehicle spun, but they had marked the spot where the child was found 22m from the collision site, he said.
The train driver, who rushed back to help, had not yet been spoken to by police. "I understand he's very traumatised by the event," Mr Carey said.
Witnesses told the Herald and police at the scene they heard the train's horn sound and brakes screech before hearing a loud bang.
It is believed that the barrier arms and bells were sounding at the time of the accident and they worked again when police tested them afterwards.
Mr Carey said it could be weeks before they knew if charges would be laid against the children's father, who had not yet been officially interviewed.
The dead boy's sisters, aged 2, 6 and 12 remained in Auckland's Starship hospital yesterday.
A hospital spokeswoman said the elder sisters were in a "satisfactory" condition but their 2-year-old sister needed more medical support.
