An investigation was under way last night after three people died when their car collided with a train at a level crossing in the Highlands.

Emergency services were alerted to the crash at Halkirk in Caithness shortly after 2pm. They found the wreckage of a silver Nissan at the side of the track and the Wick-bound train almost 500 yards down the line.

Firefighters released two from the car, while the third occupant had been thrown from the vehicle. All three were pronounced dead at the scene. Police confirmed that the 18 passengers and four staff on board the 10:38 Inverness to Wick service escaped injury.

British Transport Police, Northern Constabulary and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch are to carry out a joint investigation.

The accident will raise concerns about the safety of the crossing, which has warning lights but no barrier. In 2002, a pregnant woman sustained serious injuries after her car was involved in a crash at the same location.

Pamela Lamont, 25, a passenger on the two-carriage train was returning from a trip to Edinburgh with her two-year-old son, John, when she became aware something was wrong.

Ms Lamont, from Thurso, said: “I felt us slowing down quickly and John, who had been walking along the train, suddenly fell over. We then heard a loud bang and the train shook before it ground to a halt.”

Residents rushed from their houses after hearing the impact of the collision. Roy Picton, 65, who had been working on a fence of his cottage said he believed that the appropriate warnings had been given at the crossing.

“I heard the train coming and the driver sounding his horn, as he always does, on the approach to the crossing,” he said. “I also heard the warning beeps. The next I heard was a big bang.”

Mr Picton and his wife said they have witnessed a number of near misses since moving to the village 18 months ago.

Jamie Stone, Liberal Democrat MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said: “Our hearts go out to the families involved. Public confidence in these rural crossings is paramount and we need to find out what happened and why as soon as possible.”

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