Driver, 38, is charged with dumping his damaged Ford Mondeo in middle of a RAILWAY TRACK before running off without raising the alarm
- Car left abandoned on a railway line in Kent in the early hours of Sunday morning
- Emergency services rushed to the scene to remove the vehicle from the tracks
- Pictures from scene showed car with a damaged front and bonnet hanging off
A motorist dumped his damaged car in the middle of a railway track before running off without raising the alarm.
The Ford Mondeo was left abandoned on a railway line in Kent in the early hours of Sunday morning, police said.
Emergency services rushed to the scene to remove the vehicle from the tracks before a train ploughed into it.
The Ford Mondeo was left abandoned on a railway line in Kent in the early hours of Sunday morning, police said
Pictures from the scene near Stone Crossing station showed the car had a damaged front with the bonnet hanging off.
When the silver vehicle was discovered, a search was launched around the surrounding area of Stone near Dartford for the driver.
British Transport Police said a man was arrested and has since been charged with the obstruction of the railway.
Kent Police added that it was ‘very lucky no one involved was injured’.
British Transport Police confirmed Shane Mills, 38, has been charged with obstruction of the railway and released on bail until he appears in court in March.
A spokesman for BTP said: ‘British Transport Police were called to the line near Stone Crossing, Dartford, at 2.13am on Sunday, January 24, following reports of a vehicle abandoned on the tracks.
‘Officers attended, and a man was subsequently arrested in connection to the offence.
‘Shane Mills, 38, has since been charged with obstruction of the railway and released on bail until his appearance at Medway Magistrates’ Court on March 23.’
Emergency services rushed to the scene to remove the vehicle from the tracks before a train ploughed into it
BTP tweeted after the arrest: ‘The male that drove his car down the railway tracks at stonecrossing and dangerously abandoned it, without calling for help.
‘Has tonight been charged with obstruction of the railway. He will be having his day in court very soon to explain his actions.’
Network Rail warned drivers to be careful due to the icy conditions in the area over the weekend.
A spokesman said in a social media post after the vehicle had been discovered: ‘There’s lots of snow and ice around so please check before you travel and take care while in and around stations today.
‘Don’t be like the driver of this car, who abandoned ship on the railway near StoneCrossing last night and wasted emergency service time and people.’