Mobility scooter collides with train on level crossing

[northwichcat]

A man who was hit by a train travelling at 100mph after his mobility scooter got stuck on a level crossing in Essex has escaped with only minor injuries.

Paramedics were called to the accident at about 11:00 BST on Monday to the crossing in Church Street, Kelvedon.

The man, in his 40s, was taken to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

"We believe the man was struck on the level crossing on a mobility scooter and amazingly received minor injuries," said East of England Ambulance Service.

Essex Fire Service Station Officer John Harris, who was at the scene, said: "Somehow he ended up the wrong side of the barrier and a train travelling at around 100mph clipped the front of his scooter.

"The man sustained what appeared to be minor injuries, certainly nothing that appeared to be life threatening.

"The man was extremely lucky, if he had been only a couple of inches further forward he would have undoubtedly been killed."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-14280131

 

[ChrisCooper]

The Mail is suggesting he was drunk, which puts a whole new twist on it.

 

[Smudger105e]

The Mail is suggesting he was drunk, which puts a whole new twist on it.

And another twist is that The Mail is masquerading as a newspaper!!

 

[Oliver]

The Mail is suggesting he was drunk, which puts a whole new twist on it.

Here's the online version of the Mail story:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...survives-hit-100mph-train-Kelvedon-Essex.html

It happened around 11 in the morning, and I don't see any suggestion that he was drunk.

PS: Chris, time to update you footer. 66% of your links don't work

 

[GB]

All I will say is that just becuase the media haven't (yet) reported the drink element doesn't mean its not the case.

 

[blacknight]

Looks like Sun as got a lead on story so it must be true, they have ways of get to the truth http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3713574/Mobility-scooter-mans-lucky
Not sure why link not working but if you use link & search for mobility scooter hit by train you get Sun version

 

[RyanB]

The guy is incredibly lucky to have escaped with only minor injuries. Not many people can say that they collided with a train travelling at 100mph on a level crossing and survived. If he had been drinking, I suspect he may think twice before he drinks and rides his mobility scooter again.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Looks like Sun as got a lead on story so it must be true, they have ways of get to the truthhttp://thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3773574/Mobility-scooter-mans-lucky

Getting a 404 error on that link, anyone else?

 

[Crossover]

Try this link

It does sound like he has been very lucky

 

[Kernowfem]

According to the sun link, old Tony has had a few near misses before....does he have a death wish??

 

[jon0844]

If he does, he's proving pretty unsuccessful.

 

[cointreau_rove]

He was luckier thanme - I was walking along Swansea Bay towards the Mumbles when I was hit from behind by a woman riding her mobility scooter and ended up crushed against the sea wall. The walkway there was the site of the old Mumbles to Swansea railway so is very wide, she, in her words, "lost control" and on an empty walkway managed to halt her progress by using me as a brake.

I am heartily sick of mobility scooters to be honest - I have a disability which enables me to get one through the Motability scheme and I would not touch them. The woman driving the one that hit me climbed off and walked off in a bid to "escape" the scene. I called the Police and was told by a very patient constable that she was a known problem.

Yes the chap on the level crossing was very lucky - stand on one of the through train platforms at Slough station when a full on HST is running through and it brings the whole experience that chap had into perspective. IF and I reiterate IF he was drinking - I wonder if there are rules about drinking and driving a mobility scooter?

C

 

[w0033944]

He was luckier thanme - I was walking along Swansea Bay towards the Mumbles when I was hit from behind by a woman riding her mobility scooter and ended up crushed against the sea wall. The walkway there was the site of the old Mumbles to Swansea railway so is very wide, she, in her words, "lost control" and on an empty walkway managed to halt her progress by using me as a brake.

I am heartily sick of mobility scooters to be honest - I have a disability which enables me to get one through the Motability scheme and I would not touch them. The woman driving the one that hit me climbed off and walked off in a bid to "escape" the scene. I called the Police and was told by a very patient constable that she was a known problem.

Yes the chap on the level crossing was very lucky - stand on one of the through train platforms at Slough station when a full on HST is running through and it brings the whole experience that chap had into perspective. IF and I reiterate IF he was drinking - I wonder if there are rules about drinking and driving a mobility scooter?

C

I think so; there was a chap in Great Yarmouth a few years ago who was fined, only after the WPc got thoroughly out of breath chasing him. I'm an electric wheelchair user, but I wouldn't touch a scooter with a barge pole.

 

[Turbocharger]

According to the sun link, old Tony has had a few near misses before....does he have a death wish??

Isn't a near miss a hit? But I digress.......

 

[Jonny]

The worst thing about "mobility scooters" is that you have to be able to walk to get on them. It is highly questionable if they are disability adaptations or just excuses for sloth.

 

[WatcherZero]

I think they serve a purpose but I do detest them, had my feet crushed by them several times, drivers tend to have an attitude that everyone else either moves out of the way or gets mown down.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Essex Fire Service Station Officer John Harris, who was at the scene, said: "Somehow he ended up the wrong side of the barrier and a train travelling at around 100mph clipped the front of his scooter. The man was extremely lucky, if he had been only a couple of inches further forward he would have undoubtedly been killed."

Being on the wrong side of the argument of anything travalling at 100mph is not something to be recomended.

But imagine if the train HAD actually hit the vehicle sideways-on, what would the consequences have been, if the wreckage had then caused a derailment of a train when it was travelling at such a speed?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

It's amazing he only got minor injuries - there must have been a very significant MOI.

 

[Wyvern]

The worst thing about "mobility scooters" is that you have to be able to walk to get on them. It is highly questionable if they are disability adaptations or just excuses for sloth.

Just a note here - It is possible to be disabled with, for instance, emphysema and still be able to walk to get in and out of a scooter for instance, but not very far.

 

[GB]

The worst thing about "mobility scooters" is that you have to be able to walk to get on them. It is highly questionable if they are disability adaptations or just excuses for sloth.

Some people can walk but for only very small distances or time.

 

[Flamingo]

Lets face it though. For most users, mobility scooters appear to be nothing more than a lifestyle choice.

 

[GB]

I can't comment on that as I don't personally know anyone that uses one. I will say tho some of the scooter drivers Ive come into contact with out and about are a pita! But thats a whole different topic.

 

[PinzaC55]

The most important question is - were the barriers working correctly and if they were, why was he he on the crossing when the train was approaching? Assuming he was crossing the line at 90 degrees I can't understand how his wheels could get stuck in the check rails if that is what they mean.
The trouble is that this will further fuel the media kneejerk reaction against level crossings and , by extension, against railways in general.

BTW I googled a question and found that "Class 3 Scooters" ARE allowed on a dual carriageway (!) "though not recommended". :roll:

http://www.scootamart.com/help/mobility-scooter-regulations.html

 

[Greenback]

Lets face it though. For most users, mobility scooters appear to be nothing more than a lifestyle choice.

You've obviously been to Llanelli a lot! Almost every pub has one parked outside. The occupants seem perfectly able to walk around the pub chatting to people, often carrying a drink or two, get to the toilet (although they often bounce off a couple of the walls) and make it to the smoking area and back every ten minutes with little apparent discomfort.

Fortunately, they seem able to negotiaite the level crossings afterwards as well.

 

[anthony263]

we have 1 in porthcawl which has a stereo fitted and the man who drives it is dangerous, i have seen him nearly running over the feet of a guide dog and i have had in pull out straight in front of me as i am driving round a corner.

The way he drives i think he seem to think he a boy racer, all he needs is a body kits and a spoiler ( There is a photo of such an example on google somewhere, in fact i think such a photo has been published on the FGW coffe shop forum.)

I have seen them driving along dual carriageways and have even read about some users getting lost and endding up on the motorway.

I dont like the things and the people driving them just expect you to jump out of the way, if someone want 1 i think they should be tested to see if they are save to use one.

i have even seen people trying to take them on trains and buses ( Think there was such as case at weston super mare last year?)

 

[Flamingo]

There used to be one at Bridgend, was very abusive to platform staff when not allowed to put it on-board. I believe the message finally got through to him, he doesn't turn up any more.

Mind you, all the scooters on Porthcawl main street on a Saturday morning look like the first wave going in at El Alamain!

 

[Greenback]

I dont like the things and the people driving them just expect you to jump out of the way, if someone want 1 i think they should be tested to see if they are save to use one

I agree. Why is it that these scooters are givwn out to anyone? You shoul dhave to have a test and a driving licence in my opinion.

 

[anthony263]

I agree. Why is it that these scooters are givwn out to anyone? You shoul dhave to have a test and a driving licence in my opinion.

Hasnt that been suggested and organisations like age concern etc made a massive fuss about it?

As for a driving test yes especially if they are going on the road and they should at least have insurance, they can be worse when driving a bus in town centre's than cyclists (And thats saying something)

 

[Greenback]

Hasnt that been suggested and organisations like age concern etc made a massive fuss about it?

As for a driving test yes especially if they are going on the road and they should at least have insurance, they can be worse when driving a bus in town centre's than cyclists (And thats saying something)

Yes, sorry, I mean that it should not be legal to drive a mobility scooter on the road without a dirivng licence and insurance.

 

[SS4]

There used to be one at Bridgend, was very abusive to platform staff when not allowed to put it on-board. I believe the message finally got through to him, he doesn't turn up any more.

Mind you, all the scooters on Porthcawl main street on a Saturday morning look like the first wave going in at El Alamain!

Prodding the ground with rusty bayonets as they go

I dislike them as they invariably show no respect for pedestrians yet still travel on the footpath. For example riding down the middle of the street instead of to the left or right as those on foot do.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Yes, sorry, I mean that it should not be legal to drive a mobility scooter on the road without a dirivng licence and insurance.

However many people using mobility scooters would not be able to have a driving licence because of their disability.

Also, if you make scooters insurable, you'll have to do the same to bikes...