This is the moment a school boy diced with death by running over a deadly level crossing – as the barriers came crashing down.
The youngster, dressed in his school uniform, sprinted across the busy railway tracks despite the flashing warning lights and lowering barrier.
He made it across in front of the train but then appeared oblivious to the danger he had put himself in.
Another reckless couple were caught on camera pushing their baby’s buggy over the crossing despite the red warning lights clearly flashing in front of them.
The reckless pedestrians all ignored warning signs where five people have died in as many years at the crossing in Crawley, Sussex,
The British Transport Police (BTP) today warned that the consequences of the schoolboy and parent’s actions could have been “horrific.”
A spokesman for the BTP asked pedestrians and motorists to “exercise a little patience” at level crossings.
He said: “The actions of these people are absolutely unbelievable.
“They were clearly willing to risk their lives to nip across the tracks either to get where they were going more quickly or just for the sake of causing mischief.
“This time they were lucky, but we have seen many incidents in which others have not been as fortunate.
“Barriers are in place at level crossings to keep motorists and pedestrians safe from harm and, when used correctly, that is exactly what they achieve.
“However, when barriers and signals are ignored, the consequences can be horrific. We ask all motorists and pedestrians to exercise a little patience.”
The shocking picture shows the boy running across the tracks where the railway line crosses Horsham Road close to Goffs Park in Crawley, Sussex, on November 22.
His school uniform suggests he is a pupil at the nearby Hazelwick School in Three Bridges, Crawley, Sussex.
Headteacher Ann Fearon said: “I hope this incident reminds all students – and members of the public – about the importance of road safety.
“We will continue to impress on our students the importance of all aspects of safety. But this isn’t just an issue for the school, it’s an issue for society.”
Several people have died at the Horsham Road level crossing in Crawley in recent years.
Brett Heath, 19, died instantly from multiple injuries after he was hit by a train on the crossing after a night out in August 2007.
A mother-of-two Linda Powell, 55, from East Grinstead, Sussex, died instantly after she was hit by a train at the crossing on May 19, 2009.
Then on July 30, 2009, former bus driver Michael Heron, 51, died at the crossing after being hit by a train at 11.23pm.
And a fourth person David Barber, 53, died after he was hit by a train on the level crossing just before 10am on January 15, 2010.
Elsewhere in Britain schoolgirl Katie Littlewood, 15, was struck at high speed while using the pedestrian crossing at Johnson’s Footpath in Bishop’s Stortford, Herts., on January 28, 2012.
Nicola Dooris, Network Rail community safety manager, said: “Despite ongoing safety campaigns, hard-hitting television adverts and rail safety programes in schools which highlight the dangers, it is disappointing that people of all ages continue to misuse the level crossings in Crawley.
“We appreciate it can be frustrating to wait for trains to pass through but there is no excuse for level-crossing misuse.
“To avoid loss of life, injury, damage to vehicles and causing delays to passengers, always obey the warning sequence and never attempt to cross the railway when it has started.”
