My great escape

Karen Schofield was driving over the unmanned crossing at Oaks Lane, Bradshaw, when she saw the train, travelling at 40 mph, just feet away.

She said: "I turned to the right and saw the two headlights of the train about 15 to 20ft away.

"I think I must have instinctively put my foot down on the accelerator."

The train smashed into Mrs Schofield's BMW, hitting it just behind her driver's seat, pushing her car 100 yards down the track.

"It was almost like being in a fairground waltzer," said Mrs Schofield, aged 48.

The mother-of-three and grandmother-of-two spent a week in the Royal Bolton Hospital being treated for a broken rib, a sprained ankle, cut head and bruising.

She is now recovering at her Northwood, Harwood home and reflecting on her escape.

She said: "It was the scariest experience of my life. I am not the most religious of people but I thank God every second of the day that nothing worse happened. It is like someone has just been watching over me."

Mrs Schofield's ordeal began after she offered to take 19-year-old son Gareth to his friend's house in Oaks Lane.

She took her husband Mark's BMW 5 series and dropped Gareth off outside his friend's house. She was unable to turn the car around because of a parked car in the dark, narrow lane.

Instead she drove up the lane to turn around, crossing the unmanned level crossing on the way.

She said: "I didn't give it a thought because the gates were open and I have never had to go up there before.

"I was more concerned because I was in my husband's BMW. It is his pride and joy and I was taking care reversing at the top."

Gareth had waited outside the house to wave to his mum as she went past, but was horrified to hear the sound of a train's horn.

He ran towards the crossing, waving his arms to warn his mother of the danger.

But Mrs Schofield did not realise what his signalling meant and carried on.

After the train ploughed into the car, Gareth sprinted down the track, not knowing what he would find when he reached the wreckage of the car.

The train, which had been travelling to Manchester carrying 23 passengers between Hall i'th' Wood and Bromley Cross was not derailed.

When the car came to a halt, Mrs Schofield was amazed to find herself still conscious and checked herself for injuries.

She said: "I wasn't hurting at all at first. I think that may have just been adrenaline."

Her first thought was to get her and Gareth off the track in case another train came.

But her damaged ankle meant she was unable to move and firefighters had to cut the roof off the car while paramedics tended her injuries and the railway line was closed.

She said: "The paramedics, firemen and police don't earn enough. They were so kind and kept me so calm. I can't praise them enough."

Back home with her family - Mark, Gareth, aged 19, Daniel, aged 22 and Chevaun, aged 24 plus grandchildren Scott, aged five and three-year-old Tom - Mrs Scofield is turning her attention to calling for better safety at unmanned level crossings.

Once she can walk properly, she plans to revisit the scene of the accident and write to her MP in a bid to make level crossings safer.

The crossing does have gates which should be kept closed. Anyone wanting to cross the line has to phone for clearance from a signalman.

But on the night of Mrs Schofield's accident, the gates had been left open and she says in the dark, she did not see any signs.

An inquiry into the accident is due to be carried out by Network Rail next month.

Her family would like to see automatic barriers or, at the very least, warning lights installed.

Mrs Schofield said many people do not even realise there is a level crossing there.

"If I had had my grandchildren with me, which I usually do, they would have been in the back and been killed.

"It is an accident or a death waiting to happen there and it is unforgivable.

"There are apparently 800 unmanned crossings in the country. That is ludicrous.

"When you are relying on human input to open and shut the gates it is just not going to happen."

Mrs Schofield is determined the accident will not put her off driving again.