Age of woman killed in Hoghton train crash confirmed as girl, 8, remains 'critical' at Alder Hey Hospital
Police have confirmed the age of the woman killed in the Hoghton train crash, and have shared an update on the critically injured 8-year-old girl who was with her when the train struck their car...
A woman killed after a train struck her car in Hoghton yesterday was aged in her 30s, say police.
The woman died at the scene after a Colne to Preston Northern service crashed into her car on a level crossing in Station Road at around 8.50am.
An 8-year-old girl, a passenger in the car, suffered life-threatening injuries and remains in a critical but stable condition this morning, say British Transport Police. The pair have not been named at this stage.
The injured girl was rescued from the mangled wreck by firefighters and taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool by air ambulance for emergency treatment.
Second fatal UK train crash in a week
British Transport Police are leading the investigation into how the collision occurred. It was the second fatal rail crash in the UK in seven days - following the tragic crash in Bedfordshire which killed the train driver and injured 162 passengers when a London-bound service crashed into the back of another last Friday (June 19).
In that incident, the train driver passed a red signal moments before the collision, investigators said.
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The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) - which is also investigating the Hoghton collision - said the stationary Bedfordshire train had come to a stop "unexpectedly" because of a fault with its Automatic Warning System (AWS) equipment.
It added that "it is not yet possible to say what indication the driver received" from automatic warning system (AWS) equipment fitted to the train.
The RAIB launched an investigation into the Hoghton crash yesterday, alongside British Transport Police. No details have been released at this stage on their findings about what caused the fatal crash near Preston.
Police urge witnesses to get in touch
A spokesperson for the force told the Post: “We are currently on scene at a level crossing in Hoghton, Lancashire, following reports at 8.50am today (June 25) that a train had struck a car.
“Paramedics and the fire service are also in attendance. Two people were in the car and sadly one was pronounced dead the scene, the other is being taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
“There have been no other injuries reported from passengers on the train at this time.
“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.”