Man cut free after train hits car

The car was thrown forward ending up on its side/Pic: Alan Finlayson

A driver has been cut free from his car after a train smashed into it at a railway crossing in the Highlands.

Graham Macmillan, 44, was on his way to a shinty match when the accident happened at about 1050 BST at Bunchrew, five miles north of Inverness.

Mr Macmillan suffered a broken wrist and suspected broken leg, and was conscious as he was removed from the vehicle.

No-one on board the train was injured. An investigation is getting under way.

The crossing at Bunchrew has no barriers.

Thrown forward

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "The car was damaged and the occupant was injured, but he was conscious when the firefighters took him out of the car."

The line was shut while engineers and the police carried out inquiries.

Mr Macmillan, who is a Network Rail employee, plays for Inverness Shinty Club and was on his way to a match when the crash happened.

Passengers were taken from the train after the crash/Pic: Alan Finlayson

His family said they were really thankful his children were not in the car with him.

The crash happened 10 minutes after the two-coach train travelling to Wick, in Caithness, left Inverness railway station.

Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service said the train struck the front of the vehicle and threw it forward quite a bit, landing on its side.

The train stopped about a hundred yards further up the line.