23 Mar 2013

NZTA to investigate near-fatal wheelchair incident

11:22 am on 23 March 2013

The New Zealand Transport Agency will now investigate the incident in which a woman in a wheelchair was hit a by a freight train.

The woman was critically injured when her wheelchair got stuck in tracks at a level crossing in the Auckland suburb of Morningside on 25 February.

The accident happened on an undulating footpath that passes over at least three sets of tracks. Other wheelchair users have had problems at the crossing.

The Auckland Council and KiwiRail have already spent time looking at what went wrong and what might need to be fixed.

However, the Transport Agency has confirmed it will be undertaking a review that will include looking at the maintenance, standards and inspection regime for level crossings.

A spokesperson says as a safety regulator for rail operators, the agency will also make sure that KiwiRail conducts a full internal investigation.

The scene of the accident.

The scene of the accident. Photo: RNZ