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Second car theory in Northumberland train crash Witness call after Northumberland train crash
(about 4 hours later)
A car which was hit by a freight train in Northumberland badly injuring a boy of 11, may have been struck by another vehicle in a hit and run. Police say witnesses are crucial to establishing how a car crashed on to a rail line before it was hit by a train badly injuring a boy of 11.
The Range Rover ended up on the Newcastle-Carlisle railway line, near Greenhead, after coming off the A69 on Wednesday afternoon. A Range Rover carrying a mother and her two sons came off the A69 and ended up on the railway line near Greenhead, Northumberland, on Wednesday afternoon.
The boy was airlifted to hospital in Newcastle where he is critically ill. The 11-year-old boy is critically ill in hospital.
Northumbria Police said they now believed another vehicle had left the scene before the train crash. Northumbria Police said one line of inquiry was that another vehicle had been involved before the train crash.
They said the Range Rover was travelling west on the A69 when it crashed on to the railway line and received "a blow from a train". Police said the Range Rover was travelling west on the A69 when it crashed on to the Newcastle-Carlisle railway line and received "a blow from a train".
Remained upright The boy was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. His mother was also taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Sgt Andy Shotton, from Northumbria Police, said: "From witnesses we are led to believe a vehicle may well have left the scene." Open mind
He said he did not have a colour, make or registration mark for the vehicle. Earlier, Northumbria Police said they believed having spoken to witnesses that a vehicle may have left the scene and they were initially treating it as a hit and run road traffic collision.
He appealed for a nurse who had stopped at the scene and the drivers of other vehicles which had been in front of the car which crashed to contact police. They have now said that is one of the lines of inquiry.
He said: "I am treating this as a hit and run road traffic collision at this moment until I establish the facts." Det Insp Peter Reeve, from Northumbria Police said: "I am not ruling anything in, I am not ruling anything out. We have got an open mind in relation to this."
He urged anyone who was in the area at the time to contact police.
British Transport Police said the freight train remained upright and on the tracks.British Transport Police said the freight train remained upright and on the tracks.
No one else was seriously injured in the crash.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been informed.The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been informed.
Northern Rail said all lines between Carlisle and Hexham were blocked following the crash on Wednesday afternoon but services were running normally on Thursday morning. Northern Rail said all lines between Carlisle and Hexham were blocked following the crash on Wednesday afternoon but services were running normally on Thursday.