Investigation Report 2011-R007: Car Strike at Knockaphunta Level Crossing (XM250), County Mayo, 24th October 2010

"At approximately 10:50 on Sunday 24th October 2010 as the 10:15 passenger service from Athlone to Westport approached Knockphunta Level Crossing, the train driver saw a car approaching the level crossing while the level crossing gates were open to the railway. The train driver sounded the horn and applied the emergency brake; however the train struck the car whilst it was trying to reverse away from the level crossing. There were no fatalities or injuries as a result of this accident. There was damage to the front of the car. The immediate cause of the accident was that:

- The car stopped at the level crossing, in a position that encroached into the path of the approaching train, and then was struck by the train when attempting to reverse away from the level crossing.

The contributory factors were:
- There are no road markings or marker posts at the Level Crossing identify the decision point for users to allow them to stop clear of the railway line and make a decision to cross safely or wait;
- The level crossing gates, which provide a barrier to the railway, were open when the car driver arrived at the level crossing.

The underlying factor was:
- Iarnrod Eireann has not introduced adequate measures to reduce the frequent misuse at the level crossing in relation to level crossing users leaving the gates open to the railway.
"

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