A TRAGEDY was narrowly avoided after a car plunged down an embankment on to a railway track as a freight train approached.

The near-miss took place following a collision between two vehicles on the A117 Durham Road at Stockton.

A Mitsubishi involved in the accident went through a fence and down a steep bank on to the train line -an accident similar to the one that caused the Selby disaster.

Fortunately, the alert driver of the freight train had picked up a warning from transport police moments earlier and had slowed his train to a walking pace by the time it reached the car.

The male driver and the passenger in the Mitsubishi freed themselves from the vehicle.

Emergency services arrived quickly on the scene and fire crews helped the pair to safety.

The line was closed for an hour while the vehicle was removed.

A British Transport Police spokesman said no one was seriously injured and that the incident could have been a lot worse.

The incident happened on a freight-only line on Friday evening, and transport police confirmed the train did not hit the car.

The train involved was an EWF freight train on the Middlesbrough to Darlington line.

Cleveland Police are appealing for witnesses to the road accident, which involved the Mitsubishi and a Renault Laguna.

The Mitsubishi driver and passenger suffered leg and head injuries and were taken to North Tees Hospital and detained overnight.

Their injuries were not thought to be serious.

The Renault driver also suffered a minor injury and was released from hospital following treatment.

Ten people were killed in 2001 when a train derailed at Great Heck, Selby, North Yorkshire, after it hit a vehicle that had crashed on to the track.

Land Rover driver Gary Hart had fallen asleep at the wheel and went through a fence on to the line below.

He was convicted of causing death by reckless driving and jailed for five years.

This weekend's incident came several months after a train was derailed near Ufton Nervet, Berkshire, when it hit a car on a level crossing.

Seven people were killed when the Paddington to Plymouth train hit the stationary vehicle.

Anyone with information about Friday's road accident is asked to call PC Maxine Patten on (01642) 301558.