Girl, 14, killed by train is fourth victim at crossing
A GIRL of 14 has become the fourth person to die at a notorious level crossing. Sacha Wheeler was hit by a train at a location that rail inspectors admit is high risk.
The exact circumstances of the grammar school pupil’s death are unclear but British Transport Police say they are not treating it as suspicious. Sacha was struck at around 6.30pm on Sunday on the railway line at Whitstable in Kent.
The Glebe Walk foot crossing has a risk score of 3 out of 13 – with one being the highest danger.
Connecting two residential roads, it has no warning lights for pedestrians and train drivers are advised to sound their horn instead.
Jan Graham, a 54-year-old ice cream parlour owner, was killed on the crossing in December 2010, three weeks before artist Anne Nacci, also 54, died at the same spot. And tea room owner Anthony Sait, 40, became the third victim in February 2011.
The cause of each death was found to be suicide.
A spokesman for Network Rail said they were looking into closing the crossing and building a footbridge instead. He added: ‘This is a terrible tragedy that has affected many people deeply and our thoughts are with her family and friends.
‘Our policy is to close level crossings wherever possible and Glebe Way foot crossing is one of those we are looking at. However, we will need to take into account the needs of the users of the crossing and the views of our neighbours before we take any action.’
Sacha was a pupil at Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School in Canterbury. Her headteacher, Jane Robinson, said: ‘We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of one our pupils.
‘We have been supporting her classmates and counselling is being offered to those who need it.’
Among the messages left with bouquets at the scene of the year 9 pupil’s death was one that read: ‘We love you Sacha, you will be missed.’
More than 80 passenger and freight services use the line daily, according to Network Rail.
In 2011, the track company cut down trees to improve visibility at the site following an incident that October in which a woman was hit but survived.