Emergency services were stunned the car's occupants survived.
Emergency services were stunned the car's occupants survived.
Emergency services were stunned the car's occupants survived.
A BARNAWARTHA woman whose car slammed into an Albury-bound V/Line train five months ago is unlikely to face police charges.
Christine Griffin suffered serious leg and pelvic injuries when her car collided with the train at the Old Barnawartha Road crossing on October 8 last year.
She had ignored flashing warning lights.
Ms Griffin’s passenger, 35-year-old Howlong carpenter Scott Colee, was able to get out of the front passenger seat of the crumpled Ford Mondeo unscathed.
Police said Ms Griffin, 26, had not long returned to the Border after months of treatment and rehabilition in Melbourne.
They were not able to interview her for the first time until about two weeks ago.
Sgt Dave Arnold, of Wodonga police, said yesterday he had recommended that police take no further action against Ms Griffin, who was left trapped behind the driver’s wheel.
“That does not mean she is not liable for an civil claims for compensation,” he said.
Sgt Arnold said there were considerable costs incurred with the damage to the train and track that could be subject to such action.
“Considering the extent of her injuries and her total lack of recollection of what’s occurred it was decided it was not right to pursue this any further,” he said.
“She’s lost her car and she’s still looking at doing rehabilitation for a considerable period of time.”
Sgt Arnold said he had sent his report and the accompanying recommendations to his superiors.
That did not mean the recommendation could not be overruled, but Sgt Arnold said that was “highly unlikely”.
Ms Griffin was heading south on the Old Barnawartha Road when she failed to stop for the train.
Early investigations, including an interview with Mr Colee, revealed it appeared Ms Griffin did not see the train and was talking to him at the time.
Her car was dragged for 500 metres before the train finally came to a halt.
It took rescuers about 90 minutes to free her, and another hour before she could be safely moved to a waiting ambulance.