Driver failed to see railway crossing lights

A GARAGE director who failed to see red flashing lights at a railway crossing could have caused “unthinkable” consequences if he had collided with a train, magistrates warned this week.

A GARAGE director who failed to see red flashing lights at a railway crossing could have caused “unthinkable” consequences if he had collided with a train, magistrates warned this week.

Carey Lewis, from Midway Garage in Witchford, only saw the lights and barriers lowering after he had gone over the crossing on the A1123 at Dimmocks Cote, he told city magistrates.

He admitted failing to comply with the flashing lights on March 4, and was fined �250 with a �15 surcharge and �30 costs, and three points were endorsed on his licence.

Presiding magistrate Julian Garratt told Lewis: “This was a very serious offence. If you had hit a train, the consequences would have been unthinkable.”

Lewis, 46, of Kitson Gardens, Stretham, was driving a van to Wicken for an MoT test at the time of the offence, he said.

“I did not see any lights at all,” he added. “I could see a guy waving at me, and as I went over the crossing I looked in my mirror and saw the red lights and the barrier coming down. I must have missed the lights altogether.”