A RETIRED teacher and his teenage grandson were killed when their car was struck by a train at a level crossing after the pensioner ignored the flashing lights and barriers indicating an incoming train, an inquest has found.

The Kia Rio Barry Hearnshaw, 71, and 15-year-old Will Hallett were travelling in was torn in half by the impact when it was struck by a train travelling at 73mph.

Both victims died instantly at the site of the half-barrier crossing at Barns Green, near Horsham, on Saturday February 17 last year, West Sussex Coroner’s Court heard.

Former headmaster Mr Hearnshaw had been driving Will to a football match at about 8.38am when the accident took place.

A pathologist’s report found the cause of death for Mr Hearnshaw as multiple injuries and a head injury for Will.

Evidence from collision investigators showed that it was likely Mr Hearnshaw had steered around the barrier on to the right-hand side of the road and was heading diagonally back to the left hand side of the road when the car was hit.

Relatives suggested Mr Hearnshaw may have suffered a medical incident like a stroke, although his injuries were too extensive for this to be proven. It was deemed unlikely by investigators because of the apparently deliberate nature of the car’s steering path.

Warning

Yesterday, a jury found the cause of Mr Hearnshaw’s death to be accidental, saying: “The deceased attempted to cross the level crossing at Barns Green in his vehicle after disregarding warning signs put in place to prevent this.”

However they ruled that Will had been unlawfully killed as a result of Mr Hearnshaw’s driving on the morning of the accident.

Paul Banks, a former police constable with Sussex Police’s serious collisions investigations unit, said gouge marks on the car and marks on the road indicated the path of the vehicle.

Jurors heard that the system on the level crossing was working at “normal operation” on the day of the crash. It was estimated that the barriers had been fully lowered for about 14 seconds. However investigators were unable to offer definitive proof they had lowered as a data-storage box nearby was destroyed by fire after one half of the car became embedded in it, the inquest heard.

The weather was dry and bright but Mr Banks said it was unlikely Mr Hearnshaw had been dazzled by the sun to the point he could not see the barriers. But he said it was possible the light could have caused him to misjudge the distance of the approaching train.

Mr Banks said the evidence suggested Mr Hearnshaw “made a conscious decision to contravene the barrier and the lights”.

Train driver Mark Taylor, who has over 30 years experience, described the crash in a statement, saying: “There was a big explosion and a sound of glass smashing then a ball of smoke and flames.”

Several relatives were present at the hearing, in which a family statement was read on the first day. It said: “We want to make it very clear as a family we don’t believe in any way Barry would consciously put the life of himself and his grandson at risk at any point.”

Coroner Penelope Schofield offered her condolences to the family.