Van smashed through barrier before halting on level crossing 'one minute' before arrival of Belfast-bound train
A van which crashed through a barrier on a level crossing and stopped, only then moved away from the track a minute before a Belfast-bound train arrived at Templepatrick.
Details were given to Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena on Tuesday. Martin McDowell (44), of Donegall Avenue in Belfast, is charged with dangerous driving and failing to stop, remain and report a collision on Monday September 1 last year.
The case proceeded in the absence of the defendant after a previous court adjournment notice had been issued.
Reading from served evidence, Deputy District Judge Sean O'Hare said a Ford Transit van had failed to "stop in time", causing damage to a barrier at a railway crossing at Ballyrobin Road at Templepatrick.
Translink had CCTV of the incident which the judge viewed. The court was told the barrier began to lower as a van approached. The van "brakes hard" but had driven into the crossing. The van "took off the barrier" in the collision.
The barrier was propelled onto a road side fence and the windscreen of the van was smashed in the collision.
Reading from the served evidence, the judge added: "The van is at a complete stop, parked in the yellow-boxed area of the crossing. The driver proceeds to cross and is clear of the crossing" and "drives away from the area slowly".
"A Belfast-bound train arrives one minute after the van clears the crossing," the court was told.
The judge asked: "What makes anybody think this is anything to do with the defendant?"
Judge O'Hare said the defendant had made "no reply" when cautioned about the matter. The judge added: "I don't have an interview summary".
A prosecutor asked for the case to be adjourned. The case was put back to May and a court adjournment notice was sent to the defendant.