Report on the Accident that occurred on 28th November 1969 at Great Coates Level Crossing near Grimsby in the Eastern Region British Railways

"After dark on a clear cold evening a two-car diesel multiple-unit passenger train travelling towards Grimsby on the Up Main line passed at Danger the semaphore Home signal and ran through the level crossing gates some 60 yards beyond. As the train approached, the gates had been across the road for a Down train to depart from the station, but the signalman had opened them for road traffic as soon as this train was clear and the Up train not only destroyed the gates but hit an articulated lorry and carried it 46 feet into the station the leading car being derailed and coming to rest fouling both the Up and Down lines.

The driver of the road vehicle, one passenger in the train, and a police cadet who was using the pedestrian crossing at the time were injured. A police sergeant who was waiting-to cross the lines in his car gave immediate and valuable assistance and the ambulance arrived at 18.07 to take the 3 injured persons to hospital, but none were detained. The train left under its own power at 01.50 the following morning, and the level crossing was reopened to road and rail traffic at 02.10 under the protection of hand-signalmen pending the repair of the gates."

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