Dramatic footage has revealed the aftermath of a driver skipping a level crossing barrier and crashing into a train carrying 100 passengers.
Steve Kennedy-Smith, 63, smashed his Range Rover into the locomotive near Norwich due to a ‘brief misjudgement’ around 7.20pm on July 17 last year.
Kennedy-Smith was trying to reverse his car out of the way when it was struck at the crossing at Great Plumstead, the Eastern Daily Press reports.
The driver of the Great Anglia service travelling from Norwich was approaching the crossing when he saw a ‘vehicle poking through onto the lines’.
He slammed on the brakes and sounded the horn but could not stop in time.
No one was injured but the car was severely damaged with the front ripped off as a result of the crash.
The train suffered ‘a limited amount of damage’, Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.
Kennedy-Smith was convicted of dangerous driving and handed a six-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
He was also banned from the road for a year, ordered to do 140 hours unpaid work and pay more than £1,000 costs including £100 compensation to the train driver.
Video shared by British Transport Police (BTP) on Twitter showed the crushed bonnet of Kennedy-Smith’s Range Rover, inches away from a passing train.
BTP inspector, Becky Warren, described the crash as a ‘shocking incident’ which had ‘potentially life-threatening consequences’ for Kennedy-Smith, the train driver and passengers.
The train continued to the next station before the passengers were taken off and buses were sent to collect them.
Inspector Warren added: ‘Level crossings must be taken seriously, and I’m pleased to see that dangerous drivers are being punished for causing significant disruption and risk to the network.
‘Have a little patience and wait until it’s safe to cross – it really isn’t worth risking yours and others’ lives just to save a few minutes.’
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