SONGKHLA -- An elderly woman was killed when she drove her motorcycle around a lowered barrier and was hit by a train at a crossing in Hat Yai district on Thursday morning, police said.
Eyewitnesses told police the accident occurred about 10am. The motorcycle was hit by train No.948 (Padang Besar - Hat Yai) at the railway crossing at Ban Khlongya Nua.
The woman, identified as Wanna Saophet, 70, a vegetable vendor at Ban Phru market, drove her motorcycle around one end of the automatic barrier and attempted to cross the rail track. Many people waiting at the barrier on their motorcycles yelled out to her not to go. She seemed not to hear them.
The train hit the motorcycle, dragging it about 300 metres along the track before coming to a stop. The woman was killed, her body knocked from the bike and landing about three metres from the track.
There was no damage to the train, which continued on to Hat Yai shortly afterward, once the trapped motorcycle was removed.