Kent signalman recalls near fatal level crossing crash

A signalman who suffered a broken neck when a car hit a gate he was trying to close at a level crossing in Kent has recalled how he thought he would die.

Doug Caddell was at the crossing in East Farleigh, near Maidstone, in April when the motorist smashed into the gate to avoid waiting for a train to pass.

His injuries were so severe that he could not be operated on for four days.

The level crossing was the location for a new safety campaign launched by Network Rail on Wednesday.

Spokesman James Banks said: "A lot of us see level crossings as somewhat of a hindrance, but they are a dangerous part of the road network and of the rail network.

"It's important that everybody that uses them approaches them in a cautious manner."

The national safety initiative, launched jointly with British Transport Police, coincided with International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD).

Mr Caddell said the incident had left him with "one very vivid memory of my wife holding back tears when she was begging me to breathe".

"That hit home. That made me realise how much trouble I was in," he said, adding that he thought he was going to die.

The signalman is not expected to return to work for some time, and said he would find it hard to return to the same level crossing.

"That's going to have some long term associations I'm not comfortable with," he said.

The incident at East Farleigh is still being investigated by the police.