An uncontrolled Taranaki rail crossing where a woman died yesterday was high on Kiwi Rail's priority list for installing flashing lights - something locals have been calling for over the past 20 years.
Antoinette Hess, 48, of Kaponga, 19km southwest of Stratford, died at the scene of the Flint Rd railway crossing in Stratford yesterday when the ute she was in was flung 15-20m after being hit by a fully loaded freight train.
Her 8-year-old daughter and 63-year-old brother, who were also in the vehicle, are in New Plymouth's Tarakani Base Hospital with serious injuries.
It was not known who was driving the ute.
Stratford residents had been imploring Kiwi Rail for 20 years to install flashing lights at the crossing, which has been the scene of five previous accidents, including one in 1992 which killed 11-week-old Christine Potroz, The Taranaki Daily News reported today.
The crossing is controlled by stop signs but does not have barrier arms or bells.
KiwiRail spokeswoman Cathie Bell said the crossing was on its priority list for upgrading.
KiwiRail aimed to get flashing lights on the crossing within two years, but no barrier arms.
"We hope to get to it [flashing lights], obviously there are a lot of little crossings in the country that need it and we can't do all of it at the same time.
"Flashing lights are $110,000 and barrier arms are $200,000, they are very expensive but these things are not a total fix," Ms Bell said.
Rail Union organiser Scott Wilson said anything would be an improvement on what was there now.
"If there have been multiple accidents on that crossing, it seems like a no-brainer that something needs to be done about it."
Mrs Hess was on her way to the Taranaki A&P show where her husband already was.
He was told of his wife's death and went to the crash to the scene, but where he became distraught and was led away.
The police serious crash unit was today continuing investigations into the accident.
