Grandfather, 71, killed himself and his 15-year-old grandson in a ‘ball of fire and smoke’ when he deliberately drove onto a level crossing while the half-barriers were down and their car was hit by a train, inquest rules

  • William Hallett, 15, and Barry Hearnshaw, 71, were both killed in last year's crash
  • The pair were making their way to a football match in Barns Green, West Sussex
  • Family said suggestion Mr Hearnshaw tried to drive around a barrier was 'absurd'
  • Train driver said he saw car pull out onto tracks three seconds before the impact 

A grandfather and his teenage grandson were killed by a train when the 71-year-old disregarded warnings and deliberately drove onto a level cross while the half-barriers were down, an inquest has ruled. 

Barry Hearnshaw was giving his grandson, Will Hallett, 15, a lift to a Saturday morning football match on February 17 last year. Mr Hearnshaw ignored flashing red lights and drove round a safety barrier where their Kia Rio 4x4 was struck. 

Both Mr Hearnshaw, a retired headteacher, and Will, a talented footballer, were killed instantly when the car exploded in the village of Barns Green, near Horsham, West Sussex.  with the front of the vehicle propelled some 33 metres down the train track. 

An inquest into their deaths found Will Hallett was unlawfully killed while Barry Hearnshaw’s death was accidental. 

The family were too upset to speak about the case after the conclusion of the inquest. 

William Hallett, 15, and Barry Hearnshaw, 71, (pictured together) were killed in the devastating collision as they made their way to a football match together in Barns Green, West Sussex

William Hallett, 15, and Barry Hearnshaw, 71, (pictured together) were killed in the devastating collision as they made their way to a football match together in Barns Green, West Sussex

Earlier the family say the suggestion Mr Hearnshaw drove round the half-barriers that are in place at Barns Green was 'absurd.' 

But at an inquest into their deaths a police crash investigator said that evidence showed that despite red flashing lights and a lowered half-barrier, Mr Hearnshaw drove onto the tracks in an attempt to get to the other side. 

The inquest jury was shown an animated reconstruction of the tragedy by PC Banks showing the blue Kia passing the barrier on the wrong side of the road and driving over the crossing before its rear end is hit by the train.

William Hallet, 15, who was killed on the level crossing in West Sussex last February 

William Hallet, 15, who was killed on the level crossing in West Sussex last February 

After presenting his evidence PC Banks, who has now retired from Sussex Police, said: 'I'm confident the vehicle was wholly on the wrong side of the road and was heading for the right side when it was struck.

'It was taking a diagonal path from the wrong side of the road to the correct side of the road.'

Mr Banks, a former forensic collision investigator, added: 'The cause would appear to lie with Mr Hearnshaw who contravened the flashing red lights and barriers in attempting to cross the tracks.' 

He said physical evidence, such as gouge marks on the crossing, showed the car was on the wrong side of the road when it was hit. 

Mr Banks said: 'I can't say why he did it or why he chose to to it but the physical evidence all indicates that the vehicle has taken a steered path on the wrong side of the road and was attempting to get back on the right side of the road. 

'I'm confident the vehicle was wholly on the wrong side of the road and was heading for the right side when it was struck. 

'It was taking a diagonal path from the wrong side of the road to the correct side of the road.' 

But Mr Hearnshaw's son, Ian, questioned whether the barriers at the level crossing had come down. 

He said his father was a 'cautious' driver and would never have put his own life or that of his grandson, Will, at risk. 

Earlier the inquest was told the data which would have confirmed whether the barriers were down was destroyed when the car smashed into a barrier control room and the subsequent blaze destroyed evidence. 

The family also branded the crossing 'dangerous' and say it should have full barriers rather than half barriers. 

They said there had been three failures at the crossing in the last month alone when the barriers had failed to operate correctly. 

The failures were confirmed by Steve Herriott, of Network Rail, who said it was considered a 'safe failure' and the flashing red lights were functioning on each of the occasions. 

The pensioner and his grandson (pictured) were pronounced dead at the scene after being struck at around 8.47am on the level crossing on February 17 last year

The pensioner and his grandson (pictured) were pronounced dead at the scene after being struck at around 8.47am on the level crossing on February 17 last year

Both Mr Hearnshaw, a retired headteacher, and Will, a talented footballer, were killed instantly when the car exploded in the village of Barns Green

Both Mr Hearnshaw, a retired headteacher, and Will, a talented footballer, were killed instantly when the car exploded in the village of Barns Green

In a statement they said they 'strongly disagree' Mr Hearnshaw deliberately drove onto the crossing ignoring safety regulations.

In a statement to the inquest, the family said: 'We do not believe that Barry Hearnshaw would ever consciously put the life of his grandson at risk.

'In our opinion the view that Sussex Police have put forward that he made any conscious decision to drive across the crossing while the barriers were down is absolutely absurd.' 

In a statement, train driver Mark Taylor said: 'I was facing forward watching the track when almost instant a flash of blue appeared in front of me

'One second it wasn't there and the next it was in front of me. There was a big explosion and the sound of glass smashing. 

'A ball of smoke and flames went over the front of my train so I did not see were the car went.'

He said he believed the car came from the left and was about three quarters on the track when it collided with the train and exploded into a ball of flames.

Mr Taylor said he immediately applied the emergency brakes and the train came to a halt.

The inquest heard two passengers on the train thought the crossing barriers were down at the time of the accident.

The train, travelling at 73 mph, hit the car three seconds after driver Mark Taylor first saw the car and slammed on the brakes.

The train, travelling at 73 mph, hit the car three seconds after driver Mark Taylor first saw the car and slammed on the brakes.

Olivia Bhatlacharjee, a passenger in the second coach of the four carriage train, said: 'There was a sudden thud and a ball of flames. I was in a panic.

'I thought whatever we had hit may have caused us to derail. I assumed the train driver had applied the emergency brake. We remained there for some while.

'The level crossing to my right was lowered as we passed by.'

Jacqueline Hearnshaw, Mr Hearnshaw's widow, said: 'I strongly consider this barrier dangerous.'

Mrs Hearnshaw said: 'I'm aware that CTTV has now been installed at this crossing and also question why this was not force before.'

She said her husband was a cautious driver who drove that route regularly, taking his grandson to and from football training.

Jill Hallett, Will's mother, said: 'I will not use that crossing and will not do so, no matter. I am very concerned they have not installed full barriers.

'I am surprised there was no CCTV in place years ago and can't believe there was none.'

The jury inquest, which expected to last two days, continues. 

Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.