Inquest hears barrier had been changed only weeks before fatal train crash near Copmanthorpe, York (From York Press)

Inquest hears barrier had been changed only weeks before fatal train crash near Copmanthorpe, York

9:21am Wednesday 18th November 2009 in

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AN inquest into the death of a York father who died when his car was hit by a train has heard how the fence he crashed through was like “a black hole”.

A two-day hearing started yesterday at the Guildhall in York into the death of John Power, 54 and a father of five, who died in 2006 at Copmanthorpe.

Coroner Donald Coverdale was told Mr Power, of St George’s Place, off Tadcaster Road, suffered fatal injuries after the front of his Vauxhall Astra was crushed under the wheels of a Virgin passenger train travelling at 100mph.

Mr Power’s emotional and physical health, as well as his movements on the night of his death, all featured in witness accounts yesterday as the circumstances surrounding his death on the night of September 26, 2006 came to light.

John Milner, who lives close to where the incident took place, said the fence Mr Power had crashed through on to the tracks had been a manned level crossing years before, but it had since been closed to traffic and replaced with a white fence with a red circle.

However, he said in the weeks before the fatal incident, the white fence had been replaced by a natural, wooden agricultural gate, which he described as being like “a black hole” at night.

He described the weather at the time as “dark, damp and with a slight mist,” adding: “I was in the garage and I heard a vehicle going past.

“I thought ‘that vehicle isn’t slowing down’ and, as we were only 25 metres from the crossing, I heard a crash and thought it had obviously gone through the fence.”

Mr Milner told his wife to phone the police, but less than a minute later the 14.25 train from Plymouth hit the car, which had come to rest on the rails, killing Mr Power.

The inquest heard how earlier in the evening Mr Power had left his wife and son, Daniel, in the Cygnet Inn in Price Street, York, while he went to pick up shopping from the Tesco Askham Bar store off Tadcaster Road. Daniel Power told how his father did not return to the pub, as arranged, at 10pm.

“I remember at the time I had a feeling something was wrong,” he said. “I phoned him, but there was no reply and at that time I phoned the police.” He said his father did not have anything to drink and had left the pub in good spirits.

Daniel Power said he believed his father had then driven to Moor Lane in Copmanthorpe to pass the time before returning to the pub, and it was there Mr Milner heard a car crash through a fence and on to the tracks.

A police crash investigator told how debris from the vehicle was scattered over a huge area and the car had been split in two by the impact, with one half coming to rest nearly 80 metres from the point of impact.

The officer told the inquest there was no sign to indicate the evidence of rail tracks to the public and, in his opinion, Mr Power may have become aware of the fence and the approaching train only when it was too late to react.

A statement was read also out by the driver of the train, who said he became aware of car lights in the middle of the line.

“I saw the outline of a person sitting in the car,” he said. “He did not appear to be trying to get out.”

Despite applying emergency brakes, the train hit Mr Power’s car at 100mph.

The inquest was due to conclude today.

Lorry driver was a diabetic

THE inquest into John Power’s death heard medical evidence on both his physical and mental health at the time of the fatal incident.

As a diabetic, the 54-year-old was dependent on regular insulin injections, though a statement read out by his GP revealed it was “poorly controlled,” and that he smoked more than 40 cigarettes a day.

It was revealed he had once had a hypoglycaemic attack while driving and had pulled over, shortly after his diagnosis 20 years ago.

Mr Power was also known to have a narrowing of the coronary artery, but his post-mortem examination revealed “no evidence of a cardiac event”.

Questions over Mr Powers’ state of mind were raised when it was revealed he had taken an overdose in 1985, though this was described as “impulsive” by a psychiatrist, and a former work colleague spoke of him laughing and joking with colleagues on the day of his death.

The post-mortem examination on the on the 54-year-old lorry driver concluded he had died from multiple injuries consistent with a high-speed impact.