A freight train clipped a car that attempted to race it through a rural level crossing north of Oamaru yesterday afternoon.
The incident at T Y Duncan Rd comes just one week after Rail Safety Week and a KiwiRail spokesman told the Otago Daily Times it was ''another strong reminder why drivers should always stop and wait for a train to pass and never assume they will beat an oncoming train''.
''While it is fortunate the car driver left the scene unscathed, this kind of incident could have easily resulted in the loss of a life,'' the KiwiRail spokesperson said.
Oamaru police are investigating after receiving a report from the driver of the southbound train it had clipped a white station wagon at T Y Duncan Rd about 1pm yesterday.
The train, heading to Dunedin from Christchurch, was held up for 20 minutes as it stopped further down the track after the incident.
No damage to the train was found following an inspection by the train driver.
The white station wagon did not stop after the collision.
Constable Ashley Pickworth, of Oamaru, said police went to the scene to investigate the incident report and did not find any debris.
It appeared the driver of the white station wagon, and possibly passengers, had a ''very lucky'' escape, Const Pickworth said.
''It could've been rather serious. Fortunately, it was not,'' he said.
The rural level crossing at T Y Duncan Rd is controlled by Give Way signs.
Const Pickworth issued a rail safety reminder to the public to treat all railway level crossings in the same way and always obey the Give Way or Stop signs, flashing lights and bells at level crossings.
He asked any witnesses or anyone with information to contact him at the Oamaru Police Station on (03) 433-1400.
No other train services were delayed.
