Girl dies in rail crossing accident

Flowers at the Johnson's Footpath crossing in Bishop's Stortford after a 15-year-old girl died after being hit by a train

Police officers pay their respects at the Johnson's Footpath crossing in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire

Published: 7:31pm, 29th January 2012
Updated: 12:02am, 30th January 2012

A teenage girl has died after being hit by a train at a foot crossing in what is thought to have been a "tragic accident", police said.

The 15-year-old, who has not been named, died after she was struck at Johnson's Footpath Crossing in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, at around 11.45am on Saturday.

British Transport Police (BTP) said she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Network Rail (NR) said investigations were carried out on the crossing immediately after the incident and showed no faults with the safety measures in place.

Flashing lights, audible warnings and signalling systems were all operational, a spokesman said, and there were no problems with the fence and gate at the crossing.

"The crossing was tested immediately afterwards, as always happens when something tragic like this happens," he said. "The crossing was shown to be in full working order."

An investigation examining the full circumstances surrounding the teenager's death is being carried out. She is thought to be from Bishop's Stortford.

BTP said: "The incident is being treated as a tragic accident and it has been declared non-suspicious." An on site investigation had been completed and the crossing was reopened shortly after the incident because it was in full working order, the NR spokesman added.

NR is also co-operating fully with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, which is involved in examining the circumstances surrounding the teenager's death.

The Johnson's Footpath Crossing, which is separated from the footpath with a fence and gates on both sides, has signposts detailing safety instructions. A traffic light sits behind the fence, just a few feet from the railway track.