Arrest warrant issued for van driver over unreported Tunstead railway crossing collision

A Norwich man has been charged over an incident that left railway gates at a level crossing severely damaged.

Samuel Kent, 34, is facing accusations of failing to report the collision, as well as a separate charge of careless driving. The alleged incident involved a Ford Transit striking the crossing at Church Lane in Tunstead, near Hoveton, on July 19 last year.

The crossing is located on a 75mph stretch of the Norwich to Cromer line, where nearly 40 trains pass each day. It features gates and miniature warning lights designed to manage road and rail traffic.

Kent, who lives on Norwich Road in Wroxham, did not attend a scheduled hearing at Norwich Magistrates’ Court, prompting the court to issue a warrant for his arrest.

At the time of the incident, the nearby second level crossing in Tunstead was temporarily closed due to ongoing road works. The location has a troubled history; a fatal crash occurred there in 2000, and in 2021, a Rail Accident Investigation Branch inquiry reported a near-miss when a train narrowly avoided two vehicles.

Authorities have stressed the risks associated with the crossing, highlighting both past incidents and the need for drivers to follow reporting protocols after collisions.

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