Man dies after being hit by train on crossing

British Transport Police said the pair were hit by an express train bound for Leeds near a pedestrian crossing over the track about half-a-mile from Adwick station, north of Doncaster.

Officers said the 28-year-old man and the child were thought to be from the nearby village of Bentley, although neither of them had been identified last night.

A BTP spokesman said: “The child was injured and has been airlifted to Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

“The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Officers are currently working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and to establish the identities of both the man and child.”

He said the train involved was the 10.35am East Coast King’s Cross to Leeds service.

Services operated by both East Coast and Northern Rail on the route were badly disrupted yesterday as specialist search officers examined the scene.

Northern Rail services between Doncaster and Wakefield Westgate were replaced by buses, while trains continued to run between Wakefield and Leeds.

The tragedy is the second to happen on the East Coast main line near Doncaster in the last month

An elderly man was struck by a train on the Doncaster to York stretch of line in mid-June.

The body of the 69-year-old was found in undergrowth on Tuesday June 14 next to a level crossing.

Police said that man had been struck by a train near a crossing between Arksey and Bentley just before 7pm the previous day.

British Transport Police officers had conducted an extensive search of the lines and surrounding area – involving both ground units and a helicopter – on the Monday night before finding the body on Tuesday morning.

Officers said the pensioner’s death was not being treated as suspicious.