The scene of an accident in Ngaruawahia where an 11-year-old girl died after being hit by a train yesterday has been visited by a 1 NEWS reporter who found that the bridge the accident took place on can be easily accessed by children, despite a barbed wire fence running next to the tracks.
The Ngaruawahia railway bridge that runs over Waikato River has long been a spot for local children to jump off into the water below in a bid to cool off on a hot summers day.
1 NEWS' Jessica Mutch found that there is a child sized gap under the large metal fence topped with barbed wire protecting one side of the bridge.
Girl fatally struck by train in Ngaruawahia was playing with other children
"Kids quite often come out onto the bridge here and they jump into the water, you can see kids doing it all the time in Ngaruawahia. Locals are saying it's been a problem for a long time.
"It's pretty easy to get onto the bridge at the far side and lots of people seem to do it," Mutch said in a Facebook live video from the scene.
"On one side there is barbed wire but there's a gap under the fence where kids can climb under up onto the railway tracks so they can jump from the bridge into the water."
The mayor of the Waikato District Allan Sanson told 1 NEWS that Kiwirail (who are responsible for safety around the track) says they have done everything they can with the fences to try and block off the bridge.
One local even suggested putting a diving board on the side of the river for kids to use so they don't jump off bridge.
Senior Sergeant Dave Hall, Western Waikato police area prevention manager told Fairfax the girl was with other children on the tracks.
"They heard the train coming from the south and decided to get off the bridge," he says.
"They were seen running north, trying to get off the tracks and the young girl hasn't made it in time and was struck by the train."
Mr Hall said other children saw the accident.
"It will be devastating for the immediate family, extended family and community, to see a child lose their life in circumstances such as this."
The girl's death has been referred to the coroner.
SHARE ME