Police in Wairarapa say a girl was thrown 20 metres from a ute after it collided with a commuter train near Carterton on Sunday.
Grace Ellen Diedrichs, 15, from Carterton died at the scene and the 17-year-old male driver remains in a serious condition with head injuries at Masterton Hospital.
Senior Sergeant Carolyn Watson says the ute's driver appears to have slammed on the brakes before driving into the side of the train at about 8.15am.
The train was passing through the crossing on Wiltons Road between Carterton and Masterton.
The crossing doesn't have barriers or bells, but is controlled by a stop sign.
Senior Sergeant Watson says it appears the driver did not see the train and the police are investigating how that could be the case.
She says the train driver is extremely shaken and is being supported by Victim Support as well as KiwiRail staff.
