INCIDENT: Wilmington AHB 26/01/06

A Southern Railway service from Brighton to Ore struck a Mini Cooper on the Automatic Half Barrier crossing at Wilmington.

The driver of the train reported that the car appeared to be parked on the crossing. Although he slowed the train and sounded the horn, the car made no attempt to move to safety. The train struck the car and pushed it 100 yards down the track before stopping.

The driver of the car, later identified as Alison Jane McCloskey, 37, was pronounced dead at the scene. The train driver and his eighteen passengers were unhurt.

British Transport Police have begun an investigation and an inquest has been opened and adjourned.

Comment - another AHB suicide? If so, that could be four in four years (Swainsthorpe in 2005, Ufton Nervet (inquest pending) in 2004, Dunhampstead in 2003). Given the previous such incident was back in 1995 (Pirton) is this a worrying trend? Only Ufton resulted in fatalities to those other than the driver, but the potential for catastrophic accidents remain.

edit - The January RSSB Safety Performance Report notes that a suicide note was found with the driver.


BBC News coverage:
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Eastbourne Today:
http://tinyurl.com/eft66
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