The car crashed through the barriers onto the railway

The crew waved their arms at the driver, who brought his engine to a halt about 180 yards short of the sports car, whose driver was trapped.

He had crashed through the crossing barrier after trying to evade police. in a chase through Hull on Monday.

Train Operator Arriva said the driver was already aware and the train would have stopped automatically.

Lowest safe height

Humberside Police praised the actions of pilot Dave Williams and his crew in "preventing a serious incident" at the city's Walton Street crossing.

As the force's command centre contacted Network Rail to warn them about the wreckage of the red Jaguar, Mr Williams flew his helicopter towards the 1802 Beverley to Hull service.

A police spokesman said: "The pilot flew at the lowest safe height, in the line of sight of the train driver.

"They used the sirens fitted to the aircraft and one of the observers opened the door and signalled a warning with his arms."

Stinger device

He said a youth had been taken to Hull Royal Infirmary with head injuries as a result of the crash.

One person was in custody, the spokesman said.

He said the Jaguar had been involved in a high speed chase through residential streets in Hull, having avoided a police "stinger" device.

An Arriva spokeswoman said the engine could not have struck the wreckage.

She said: "The train came to a controlled standstill because of a red signal and it could not have progressed any further down the line."

She added: "There was never any question of the train going on to the crossing as all approach signals were at red, as they would be normally when a train is approaching an area of the track where there is a barrier crossing."