The timing of the lights had been set for slow trains and fast trains had just started to run on that line. The view to my left, which was the direction from which the train came, was obscured by a large pile of sleepers. I was on the crossing, driving a Bradford van, when I saw the train about 15 metres away. The train headlamp left a large round depression on the side of the van just behind the rear edge of the left door.

The van was picked up on the cow catcher and slung across the road to be wrapped around a power pole. The spare wheel came out from under the rear floor and hit a building about 35 metres away a good 3 metres above ground level leaving a smear of rubber on it. All that the first people on the scene could see was a pair of feet sticking up from between the floor and the left hand side of the van, which was still upright. I came to at that point having been knocked out on hitting the inside of the van. Apart from slight concussion I suffered no other damage. NZ rail had the cheek to send me a bill for repairs to the headlamp!


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