23 Jan 2014

Woman critical after colliding with train

10:29 pm on 23 January 2014

A woman whose car was struck by a train on the West Coast at a crossing is in a critical condition in Christchurch Hospital.

The collision happened about 1.30pm at a railway crossing in Inangahua on Thursday.

Police say the train, which was travelling from Westport towards Reefton pulling 30 wagons of coal, struck the car she was driving at a crossing that does not have a stop sign, a barrier or lights.

The 56-year-old woman was the only occupant in the car and was flown the Christchurch.

A serious crash investigation is under way.