Press Association
Saturday 4th July 2009
A seven-year-old autistic boy and his grandmother killed by a train at a railway crossing was "an accident waiting to happen", a councillor said.
Jean Hoggart, 56, died alongside Mikey Dawson after they were struck by a train as they crossed the Robin Hood line in Bestwood Village, Nottinghamshire, at 6.45pm on Saturday.
Mikey's mum Karen Dawson was too devastated to speak after losing her mother and son.
A local politician said the crossing was "an accident waiting to happen".
Councillor Chris Baron, from Nottinghamshire County Council, said he wanted gates that lock themselves when a train approaches to be installed.
The 53-year-old, who represents the area, said: "It's a mixture of East Midlands Trains and Railtrack and I believe they have a responsibility and duty to ensure pedestrians have a safe route across the tracks.
"If you look at it with the lack of lighting, together with the dog-legged crossing, this was an accident waiting to happen. There will be discussions between public bodies about who should be supplying the street lights and who has to pay for the work, but all we are bothered about is that people can get across safely."
Labour's Paddy Tipping, MP for Sherwood, said there had also been a long-running campaign to improve lighting at the pedestrian-only crossing.
It is understood that Mrs Hoggart, a dinner-lady from nearby Hucknall, was visiting her sister Julia Hackett with her grandson in Bestwood Village.
They were making their way over the crossing, which also covers a tramline, when they were hit by the Worksop to Nottingham service.
