A signalman and Network Rail have been convicted over the death of a woman killed at a level crossing in Herefordshire. Jane Harding, 52, died when the car she was in was struck by a train at Moreton-on-Lugg on 16 January 2010.
Birmingham Crown Court heard that safety barriers had been raised before the collision. Signalman Adrian Maund, 43, from Leominster, had lowered the barriers for a passing train but then raised them after a farmer called his signal box, causing him to 'dither' and 'panic'. He failed to see the approaching Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven train.
The crash caused the car, driven by Mrs Harding's husband Mark, to flip over. She died in hospital, while her husband suffered pelvic and shoulder injuries. Another car was also hit, but its occupants escaped with minor injuries.
Prosecutor Philip Mott QC said Network Rail was equally culpable for not installing an automatic-locking device at the crossing during improvement works in 2009. The device, costing £40,000, could have detected the oncoming train and kept the barriers down. Network Rail disputed the cost, claiming it could be ten times that sum.
Mrs Harding's husband Mark said: 'Three years ago we lost an extremely special person in an accident that could and should have been prevented.' Network Rail expressed deep sorrow and said alterations have since been made at Moreton and similar crossings to prevent such errors.
Jayne Salt from the Crown Prosecution Service stated that Maund's momentary error and Network Rail's deliberate decision not to install a safety device both contributed to the death. Sentencing is scheduled for 10 April.
