Pensioner dies after car crashes down embankment onto railway
A man in his 70s has died after his car fell down an embankment onto the railway tracks in North Yorkshire.
The alarm was raised yesterday afternoon at about 3.19pm when people spotted a silver car on the railway line near Stray Rein in Harrogate.
The out-of-place vehicle caught their attention from nearby Royal Bridge as it had landed on its roof.
When officers inspected the Volkswagen Golf, they found the driver, a man in his 70s, inside.
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Despite the efforts of the emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
His family are being supported by specialist officers.
The man was travelling on York Place before his car swerved from the road and fell down the steep embankment.
Superintendent Andy Nunns from North Yorkshire Police said: ‘There is currently a scene in place for collision investigation work to take place.
‘York Place in Harrogate is likely to remain closed for most of this evening and the railway line between Harrogate and Leeds is likely to be closed for most of the night.
‘We will continue to work with Network Rail and the British Transport Police to minimise disruption.
‘My thoughts at this time remain very much with the man’s family and I would like to thank the public for their patience.’
The railway between Leeds and York via Harrogate was closed until about 1am today before the line reopened, affecting Northern train services.
Alex Hornby, a commercial and customer director at Northern, said: ‘Thanks to all our teams on another busy and challenging day, especially here on the Harrogate Line where the line was severed due to an earlier incident. Conductor Dave here and the team have done their utmost to keep the railway and our customers on the move.’
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