Probe into fatal crossing crash

Red and green signals tell whether it is safe to cross the tracks

An investigation is under way after a teenager died when his car was hit by a train on a level crossing.

Five passengers were also injured in the accident that killed 17-year-old Lee Coates at Rawcliffe Bridge near Goole, East Yorkshire, on Thursday.

Transport police are trying to pinpoint the cause of the crash at the level crossing, which engineers have said was working at the time of the accident.

Local people have expressed fears over the safety of the unmanned crossing.

The crossing has a small set of red and green warning lights and is guarded by metal gates which are operated manually by drivers wanting to cross the tracks.

Eyewitness Maurice Champeau told BBC News questions had been raised about whether warning lights were adequate.

He said: "It is a manual level crossing. It's always been a bone of contention with the locals in the area about whether the lighting on it has ever been adequate."

The car was dragged underneath the train

Network Rail engineers examined the crossing's data logger on Friday and found no fault with the crossing's lights which indicate when a train is approaching.

British Transport Police Chief Inspector Jane Kitchen said: "Various lines of enquiry are still being pursued to establish how this tragedy occurred, this includes a thorough examination of the car."

Pat O'Neil, the leader of Goole Town Council, said the issue of the crossing had been discussed by councillors.

"These crossings are always seen as a dangerous thing. Roads and rail do not go together," she said.

Dragged along track

The train - the 1756 BST Doncaster to Scarborough service - did not derail in the crash.

Mr Coates's lived locally and his Renault Clio was dragged about 100 yards up the track towards Goole before coming to a halt.

The crossing is on a remote track leading to outlying farms in the area.

Three of the passengers hurt in the accident were taken to Hull Royal Infirmary suffering from suspected spinal injuries. The other two escaped with minor injuries.

Network Rail engineers using heavy lifting equipment cleared the track on Thursday night and rail services were running on Friday.