THE victim of a horror collision on a rail level crossing is believed to be Clacton woman Kelly Mack.

Elliot Furniss

BRITISH Transport Police officers have been speaking to witnesses over the weekend in a bid to shed more light on the death of a woman who was hit by a train and killed.

The woman, in her 20s, died instantly after being hit by a train travelling at about 50mph at a level crossing at Hythe Gate in Colchester at about 7.50pm on Thursday.

The woman's identity is likely to be confirmed by police this week - although she has been unofficially named by friends as Kelly Mack, of Clacton.

It is believed she had got her foot stuck in the wooden guards of the crossing and was struck by an oncoming National Express service travelling from London Liverpool Street to Clacton. A passing student has told how he tried to rescue the woman from the rail line.

Some eyewitness reports have suggested that she did manage to get free from the wooden guards, but was hit by the train after trying to make it across the line to meet her boyfriend.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “Two witnesses to the incident have come forward. They saw the incident from start to finish and officers are now talking to them.”

Officers said the level crossing barrier had been down and red warning lights flashing when the woman started to cross the tracks.

Any witnesses are being urged to contact investigating officers on 0800 405040 quoting incident number 607 on March 27.