About 9.15am today (12 January 2011), Stratford Police were called to a crash at the Flint Road rail crossing between a northbound train and a utility.

Early indications are that the ute has turned into Flint Road from the northbound lane on Broadway (State Highway 3) and driven into the path of the oncoming train.

The vehicle was overturned and came to rest in a drain on the west side of the track, approximately 15-20 metres from the point of impact. All three occupants were initially trapped inside the ute.

Members of the public, who were first on the scene, were able to free a young girl from the vehicle. Fire staff were eventually able to free the remaining two occupants.

48-year-old Antoinette HESS of Kaponga died at the scene. The remaining two occupants were transported to Taranaki Base Hospital with serious injuries. They are a 63-year-old man from Kaponga, believed to be the dead woman's brother, and an 8-year-old girl, believed to be the dead woman's daughter.

The driver of the train was shaken but not injured.

The immediate scene was closed for several hours while emergency services dealt with the incident.

The scene was finally cleared once the Serious Crash unit completed a scene examination.

Police investigations into the crash are underway to establish the cause of the collision. Due to the severe impact of the crash Police have yet to establish categorically who the driver of the vehicle was.

ENDS

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