A potential disaster was averted by Humberside Police after a vehicle was left abandoned on a railway line in Hull.

The incident happened on the afternoon of Monday 03 October at when a car was requested to stop on Witty Street in the city by a police patrol on the ground and failed to do so.

The driver of the silver Ford Mondeo then abandoned the vehicle on the railway lines close to Hawthorn Avenue leaving it in the path of an oncoming train.

The force helicopter was called to the scene to help stop the train which was travelling on the eastbound line and officers from the Air Support Unit were able to alert the driver and stop the train before it was in collision with the car.

The helicopter was deployed to the scene at 1403hrs and arrived at 1406hrs. By flying low, above the height of the train and by using lights and the help of the pilot and crew onboard, the train was stopped safely at around 1426hrs.

Nobody was injured in the incident and the vehicle was recovered by police as short time after the incident.

The driver of the vehicle, a 40-year-old Hull man, was arrested by officers at the scene for failing to stop and suspected drugs offences. He has now been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Chief Superintendent (Operations) Colin Andrews said:

“This was a reckless act by the driver of the vehicle, which could have resulted in the deaths of a number of people, but as a result of the quick thinking of the Humberside Police helicopter crew it was avoided.

“It is not the first time the Humberside Police helicopter has prevented a train crash. The pilot and crew on board are to be congratulated for their quick thinking, which prevented a potential tragedy.

“This incident is just one example of how versatile the force helicopter can be.”