A delivery van driver has died after his vehicle collided with a Northern Rail train at a level crossing in Burscough, West Lancashire. The incident occurred around 3pm on 29 August, with British Transport Police confirming the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Passenger Sophie Cassidy, 26, was travelling at the front of the train with her one-year-old son and four-year-old daughter after attending the Southport Airshow. She witnessed the van approach the crossing moments before impact.
Passenger describes moment of impact
Sophie said she saw the delivery van driver heading towards the crossing from her seat behind the driver's cab. She described thinking: "I couldn't believe what I was seeing, I was thinking oh my god we are about to hit him. Surely he can see us?"
When the train struck the van, the front window of the train was destroyed. Sophie said the driver had to duck to avoid being killed, and the door separating the driver from the carriage flew off. She feared the train might derail with her children on board.
Emergency response and passenger treatment
British Transport Police were called at 3:18pm, with paramedics and the fire service also attending. Two passengers received treatment for minor injuries. The incident is not being treated as suspicious.
Sophie praised the train driver, saying he "did everything in his power" to avoid the van and later checked on passengers. She also commended emergency workers and Northern train staff. She said she knew from her vantage point that the van driver could not have survived.
Enquiries are ongoing, and witnesses are asked to text British Transport Police on 61016 quoting reference 373 of 29 August.
