Level crossing crash: driver second man to die at rail tracks in recent years

A man who died after a train ploughed into his car on a level crossing in Gloucestershire was the second person to die at the crossing in recent years.

The incident happened near Frampton Mansell at about 3.10pm when a Great Western Railway train hit the vehicle the man was thought to be driving.

It's emerged another man was killed at the crossing back in May 2014.

Motorcyclist Paul Martin from Stroud - who was 37 at the time - died when his trail bike was hit by a train at the same crossing.

A report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch found he may not have heard its horn because he was wearing a crash helmet.

Network Rail, which manages rail infrastructure including level crossings across Britain, said the incident happened near the Frampton public footpath crossing.

The crossing, which is made up of a metal gate at the end of a field leading to railway tracks, is not manned and people wishing to cross the line have to contact a signaller via a dedicated phone to get permission.

As many as 37 trains pass through the crossing every day travelling at up to 50mph. Dozens of pedestrians and cyclists also use the crossing every day.

The last Network Rail safety assessment was carried out in May 2016 and highlighted the risks to drivers of misusing the crossing, with a large number of people using it and a "low sighting time".