Endurance athlete Steve Gurney says he feels lucky to have survived a collision between his car and a passenger train.
The nine-time winner of the Coast-to-Coast multisport race was driving his Subaru wagon over a rural railway crossing in Rangiora when he was hit about 7.30am on Tuesday.
Gurney says he remembers looking up and seeing the train coming towards him.
He says he can recall the impact, the car spinning and then taking off his seatbelt and getting out of the car.
Gurney says he has a sore head and neck, but no serious injuries.
KiwiRail says that section of track has no warning bells. It says there was minor damage to the front of the train and buses have been put on for the passengers' return trip from Picton to Christchurch.
