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Car driver dies in rail collision Car driver dies in rail collision
(40 minutes later)
A driver has died in Yorkshire after their car ploughed through a fence on to a rail track and was hit by a train.A driver has died in Yorkshire after their car ploughed through a fence on to a rail track and was hit by a train.
None of the 74 passengers on the 1425 Virgin service from Plymouth to Edinburgh was hurt in the collision at Copmanthorpe, near York.None of the 74 passengers on the 1425 Virgin service from Plymouth to Edinburgh was hurt in the collision at Copmanthorpe, near York.
A section of the East Coast Main Line was closed following the crash.A section of the East Coast Main Line was closed following the crash.
Police said the car had left a road at about 2055 BST on Monday. Virgin said the train's front wheels left the rails in the crash but it remained upright.Police said the car had left a road at about 2055 BST on Monday. Virgin said the train's front wheels left the rails in the crash but it remained upright.
Slowing downSlowing 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."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."
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.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.
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 TrainsThere 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
The train's driver was uninjured, he said.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."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.""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.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 incident did not take place at a level crossing.The incident did not take place at a level crossing.
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.
Emergency crews examine where the car left the road Emergency crews help lead passengers to safety
"[It] was then hit by a train... carrying 74 passengers.""[It] was then hit by a train... carrying 74 passengers."
Passengers were taken to York station by bus following the accident.Passengers were taken to York station by bus following the accident.
One passenger, Dave Lamport from Stockton-on-Tees, said the driver had sounded the horn before an impact was felt.One passenger, Dave Lamport from Stockton-on-Tees, said the driver had sounded the horn before an impact was felt.
"I was right at the front of the front carriage, right behind the driver and as it was hitting every sleeper, just bang, bang, bang, bang, bang," he told the BBC."I was right at the front of the front carriage, right behind the driver and as it was hitting every sleeper, just bang, bang, bang, bang, bang," he told the BBC.
He described being thrown about the carriage and "praying" for the train to slow, adding: "Eventually we stopped and we were upright, which was the main thing."He described being thrown about the carriage and "praying" for the train to slow, adding: "Eventually we stopped and we were upright, which was the main thing."
British Transport Police, fire and ambulance crews were all 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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