A woman has died and an eight-year-old girl is fighting for her life after a train collided with a car at a level crossing in Hoghton, Lancashire, on Tuesday morning.
Emergency services were called to Station Road at 8.50am following reports of the crash. Fire crews, ambulance teams, and officers from British Transport Police and Lancashire Police rushed to the scene. The woman was pronounced dead at the crossing, while the child, who sustained life-threatening injuries, was airlifted to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.
“Woman killed, eight-year-old girl critically injured after train hits car at level crossing in Hoghton, Lancashire.”
“Today’s events are truly devastating,” said British Transport Police Superintendent Jamie McGowan. “Our thoughts are firmly with the family of the woman who sadly lost her life and the young girl in hospital with serious injuries.” He said specially trained officers are supporting the family, and detectives remain at the site working with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) to establish what led to the collision.
The train involved was the 7.51am Colne to Preston service, operated by Northern. No passengers or staff on board required medical treatment, according to the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS). A NWAS spokesperson said several clinical teams attended, including the hazardous area response team and two air ambulances.
Northern’s managing director, Tricia Williams, confirmed the collision and said the company is cooperating fully with the investigation. “Our thoughts are with the person who sadly died in the collision and the other passenger in the car who has been taken to hospital,” she added.
The RAIB said it has sent a team of inspectors to the site for a preliminary examination, with a decision on a full investigation expected in the coming days. Meanwhile, Northern Rail advised passengers not to travel between Preston and Blackburn, as the line remained closed.
Lancashire County Council leader Stephen Atkinson described the incident as “truly heartbreaking” and offered condolences. On social media, local residents expressed shock and sorrow, with one person writing: “This is awful. Thoughts are with these poor people.”
The cause of the collision remains under investigation.