A rail passenger was hurt when a train hit a lorry, which a Shropshire scrap metal dealer had driven on to a level crossing without permission, court heard.
But 45-year-old Arthur Roberts was spared jail yesterday after admitting breaching the level crossing laws. Welshpool Magistrates Court was told that it had been a “potentially a very serious incident”.
Roberts had driven onto the unmarked crossing at Buttington, Powys, without phoning for permission, the court head.
His lorry was then struck by an Arriva Train Wales service from Birmingham to Aberystwyth. One of the 140 passengers needed treatment for cuts and bruises.
Roberts, of Cherry Tree Drive, St Martins, was given a four-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, told to do 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £60 costs.
Mr David Peate, presiding magistrate said: “This was potentially a very serious incident caused by your recklessness. You only just escaped immediate custody.”
Miss Clare Jones, prosecuting, said Roberts and two other people were in a van travelling to a farm close to the A458 at Buttington.
She said: “As the van approached the level crossing the driver is meant to get out and call the signal officer in Machynlleth, who will say whether it is safe to cross.”
She said Roberts failed to wait for this permission and began making his way across the line before stopping to open the gate.
“When the van was crossing the line the train came around the corner and hit the van,” she said. “It was travelling at 70mph and the driver had to put on the emergency brakes.”
Miss Jones said the train took 40 seconds and half a mile to stop, but only one person needed medical treatment.
Mr Alun Williams, for Roberts, said that his client was truly sorry for the incident and would always pay full attention to crossings in the future.
By Andrew Morris
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