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Car driver dies in rail collision Car driver dies in rail collision
(about 1 hour later)
A driver has died after his car was hit by a train after ploughing through a fence on to a rail track in Yorkshire. A driver has died in Yorkshire after their car ploughed through a fence on to a rail track and was hit by a train.
No-one on the train - the 1425 from Plymouth to Edinburgh - was hurt in the derailment just before 2100 BST, and the 74 passengers were led to safety. None of the 74 passengers on the 1425 Virgin service from Plymouth to Edinburgh was hurt in the collision at Copmanthorpe, near York.
Emergency crews are at the scene, at Copmanthorpe, near York, and the East Coast Main Line has been closed. Emergency crews are at the scene and a section of the East Coast Main Line has been closed. Police said the car had left a road just before 2100 BST.
The incident was not at a level crossing. Police said the car ended up on the track after leaving a road. Virgin said the train's front wheels left the rails but it remained upright.
Slowing down
The company's spokesman Arthur Leathley said: "Technically, we call that a derailment, and that gives the impression of the train being on its side."
There is a crumple zone in the nose of the train that is designed to absorb a lot of the force of any impact Arthur Leathley, Virgin Trains
He said the train could reach speeds of 125mph, but it was slowing down as it approached York and had been travelling at about 100mph at the time of the collision.
The train's driver was uninjured, he said.
"These are some of the newest trains on the network and they underwent a lot of crash testing before they came into service," he said.
"There is a crumple zone in the nose of the train that is designed to absorb a lot of the force of any impact and it appears that this is exactly what happened."
The line is expected to be closed between York and Leeds for several hours but Mr Leathley said Network Rail hoped to have three of the four tracks open in the morning.
Passengers transferredPassengers transferred
The rail line is expected to be closed between York and Leeds for several hours. The incident did not take place at a level crossing.
Emergency crews examine where the car left the road
North Yorkshire Police said the car had left Moor Lane and ploughed through a fence onto the track at about 2055 BST on Monday.North Yorkshire Police said the car had left Moor Lane and ploughed through a fence onto the track at about 2055 BST on Monday.
A spokesman told BBC News 24: "The picture we have at the minute is of a car leaving the road, going through a fence, and going onto the line.A spokesman told BBC News 24: "The picture we have at the minute is of a car leaving the road, going through a fence, and going onto the line.
"[It] was then hit by a train... carrying 74 passengers.""[It] was then hit by a train... carrying 74 passengers."
The passengers were being taken back to York station by bus following the accident.The passengers were being taken back to York station by bus following the accident.
British Transport Police, fire and ambulance crews have all been called to the scene. British Transport Police, fire and ambulance crews were all called to the scene.
The collision took place about 20 miles from Selby, where, in 2001, a Land Rover ended up on the rail track, causing a train derailment that left 10 people dead.The collision took place about 20 miles from Selby, where, in 2001, a Land Rover ended up on the rail track, causing a train derailment that left 10 people dead.
Land Rover driver Gary Hart, of Strubby, Lincolnshire, was jailed for five years in 2002 after being convicted of 10 charges of causing death by dangerous driving.Land Rover driver Gary Hart, of Strubby, Lincolnshire, was jailed for five years in 2002 after being convicted of 10 charges of causing death by dangerous driving.


Do you have any pictures of the Copmanthorpe incident? If so, you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.ukDo you have any pictures of the Copmanthorpe incident? If so, you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk
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Were you on the train when the incident occurred? Were you nearby and did you see what happened? Please send your experiences using the form below.Were you on the train when the incident occurred? Were you nearby and did you see what happened? Please send your experiences using the form below.
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