Northern issues urgent travel advice for passengers in Lancashire following fatal Hoghton crash
A major train operater has warned of severe disruption to their network following a fatal crash in Hoghton this morning.
Northern Trains has issued new travel advice to passengers in Lancashire following a fatal collison in Hoghton.
This morning, a Preston-bound train crashed into a car at a level crossing in Hoghton - tragically killing the driver and critically injuring a child.
Emergency services were called to the scene of the fatal collision on Station Road at around 8.50am.
Two people were in the car and the driver was sadly pronounced dead the scene.
Emergency services rescued a child from the wreck and North West Ambulance Service said the youngster “sustained life-threatening injuries”.
The child was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in one of two air ambulances which attended the scene.
No staff or passengers on the train required treatment, added NWAS.
This afternoon, Northern have warned that severe disruption is still in place in the area, following the tragic incident.
A spokesperson told the Post: “There are no trains running between Preston and Blackburn until further notice. Customers should not attempt to travel between these stations today.”
British Transport Police are leading the investigation into how the train, travelling from Colne to Preston, collided with the car on a level crossing.
The crossing in Station Road has a number of safety measures in place - including signage, traffic light signals, half-barriers and ‘whistle boards’, which alert drivers and pedestrians to approaching trains.
The speed limit on the line is reportedly 70mph and around 80 trains travel through the crossing each day.
British Transport Police, as well as Network Rail and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, are investigating how the crash occurred.
A spokesperson for British Transport Police said: “Enquiries to establish the full circumstances of this incident are ongoing, and anyone who witnessed what happened who hasn't already spoken to police is asked to text 61016 quoting reference 152 of June 25.”
Tricia Williams, managing director of Northern, said: "We can confirm the 7.51am Colne to Preston service was involved in a collision with a car at a level crossing in Hoghton this morning.
"Our thoughts are with the person who sadly died in the collision and the other passenger in the car who has been taken to hospital.
"We are now working to support the emergency services, Network Rail and Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and will co-operate fully with the investigation into what happened."