Woman dies after collision with train

A 66-year-old woman is dead after a train ploughed into the side of her car in Tauranga yesterday.

Vera Jean Menzies suffered head and chest injuries in the 9.45am collision on the Bureta Rd railway crossing and died nearly four hours later in hospital.

Police crash analysts say the crossing bells and lights were working at the time.

"The train hit the passenger's side of the vehicle and she sustained massive head and chest injuries," St John area manager Jeremy Gooders said.

"She was in a critical condition at the scene and also when she was delivered to hospital," .

Today, as the investigation into the accident continued, Ms Menzies' neighbours paid tribute to her.

She was described as a street icon to her Kulim Ave neighbours, who loved her like a family member.

"She was the sort of person who would give the coat off her back even though she didn't have much herself," neighbour and close friend Hilda Mulliner said.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES