A safety campaigner warns it is only a matter of time before there's another fatal accident at a level crossing in Auckland if nothing is done about the risk.
The scene of the crash between a car and train at a level crossing in Morningside yesterday. Photo: RNZ / Rowan Quinn
A woman was seriously injured yesterday after a collision between her car and a train at the busy Morningside Station yesterday afternoon.
A witness said the woman had just left the gym a few metres from the tracks when the crash happened.
Auckland Hospital said the woman had been in a serious condition but had since stabilised.
Police said the barrier arm was down and the lights were flashing before the crash.
An Eden-Albert local board member and level-crossing campaigner, Graeme Easte, said it did not matter who was to blame.
He said the barrier arms and flashing lights were not enough to keep people safe, and the crossings simply should not exist in built-up city and suburban areas.
"Accidents in those circumstances, at some point it's almost inevitable," he said.
"And there are other - there's half-a-dozen - crossings that are similarly busy."
Melbourne has committed to removing 50 dangerous level crossings over the next eight years at a cost of $6 billion.
Mr Easte said Auckland Council should remove one or two crossings at a time to ease the financial burden.
