UK: A police officer tried in vain to avert Saturday's train crash in Berkshire, England, in which seven people died.
The off-duty officer had seen a saloon car on the crossing and then watched as the barriers moved into the prevent-entry position with the vehicle still there.
The Thames Valley Police officer went to the emergency phone at the crossing to summon help, but the London-to-Plymouth First Great Western express train struck the car before he could get through.
The driver of the car, a man, was one of seven people killed and 11 seriously injured in the incident at the automatic half-barrier outside the village of Ufton Nervet near Reading. Altogether 150 of the 300 passengers were hurt.
As rail unions and safety experts called for a review of level-crossing policy, Transport Secretary Mr Alistair Darling promised a full investigation into the tragedy - the first at a level-crossing to involve passenger deaths since the Lockington disaster in Yorkshire in 1986, in which nine lives were lost.
As workers prepared to clear the tracks of the derailed eight-car train, Deputy Chief Constable Andy Trotter of the British Transport Police described the events involving the off-duty officer.
"An off-duty Thames Valley police officer was driving along the lane. As he approached the crossing he saw a stationary saloon car on the crossing and he was obviously concerned about what was happening," he said.
"He stopped his vehicle and before he could do anything the barriers came down. Realising there was a potential disaster he ran to the emergency phone to call the signal box, but before he got a response, the train came through."
The officer was on the phone for a matter of seconds, said Mr Trotter. Mr Trotter denied reports that the officer had talked to the driver, who was alone in the car.
He also revealed there were still two bodies at the scene of the incident. The bodies of two other victims were earlier removed from the scene.
The driver of the Great Western train, which had left London at around 5.30 p.m., was among the dead.
Passengers told how they used mobile phones and novelty glowsticks as impromptu torches to guide them to safety after the collision.
Student Mr Jonathon Stace (21), from London, who suffered an arm injury, said: "The lights went out. I felt like we spun over and after that I could feel bodies going on top of me and being thrown different places.
"It was pitch-black. We couldn't see anything. It was quite clever, everyone managed to use their phones as torches."
Mr Ian Horler (37), from Newbury, Berkshire, told how his partner, Ms Sharmin Bacchus, also 37, had been helped by other passengers after suffering broken ribs and a fractured pelvis, including a "mystery" man, a Marine called Tom, whom he was eager to contact.
When a train is due at a barrier such as the one in Berkshire, the barrier's amber lights come on for about three seconds and then red lights flash for about four to six seconds before the barriers lower into place - a process that takes about six to 10 seconds.
A train travelling at 100m.p.h. would reach the crossing around 27 seconds after the barrier came down.
According to statistics from Rail magazine, there were 18 fatalities at level-crossings in the UK last year, including five occupants of cars. Network Rail said there were 24 collisions between trains and road vehicles at crossings in 2003 - up from 16 in 2002.
On average there are 12 fatalities a year at level-crossings, but the UK has one of the best crossing safety records in Europe. RMT rail union leader Mr Bob Crow called for all level-crossings on high-speed lines to be removed, while train drivers' union, Aslef, said advanced cab warning systems should be installed in trains. Also, former British Rail safety chief Mr Peter Rayner said the Railway Inspectorate should review the existing level-crossing policy to take in up-to-date road and rail speeds and levels of traffic on both main lines and roads. A police spokeswoman said investigating officers had not ruled out the possibility the car driver was attempting to commit suicide. When asked if officers would be looking at the man's medical history, Mr Trotter said: "We never jump to conclusions, but obviously this is a major line of inquiry when you get such unusual behaviour."