Great Western Coffee Shop

Woman rescues drivers trapped on level crossing... then pushes cars away as train approaches

A woman who risked her life to save two drivers after they crashed on a level crossing as a train was approaching has been awarded one of the UK's highest national bravery honours.
Courageous Lucy Gale, 31, rescued pensioner Mary Schneider who was lying across her steering wheel and Kelvin Brook who frantically trying to get out of his vehicle after the crash in Pontefract, West Yorkshire.
In an incredible show of strength and bravery, Ms Gale then pushed their cars off the tracks in order to prevent a catastrophe when an oncoming train roared past.
The desperate life-and-death struggle has now won Ms Gale a rarely awarded Royal Humane Society Silver medal which has been personally approved by the Society's president, Princess Alexandra.
In addition to the medal she is to receive Lucy also won the personal praise of the Society's secretary, Dick Wilkinson for her heroic feat.
As he announced the award at the Society's London headquarters he said: 'This was truly a matter of life and death.'
Ms Gale was approaching the level crossing 300 metres from Hensall Railway Station when she noticed the crash on May 27 last year.
The crossing gate was unable to close fully as one car was obstructing it, and there was a goods train visible, approaching on the down line.
The woman, who after saving the drivers then averted a devastating accident by pushing one car out of the way of a speeding train with seconds to spare
She is to receive a rarely awarded Royal Humane Society Silver medal after her bravery impressed the Society's president, Princess Alexandra, the Queen's cousin.
Without hesitation or fear for her own safety, Ms Gale crossed the down line on foot, removed the woman from her car and took her to safety.
Then she then went back and forced the other drivers damaged door to let him out, before pushing the vehicle off the crossing just as the train passed by, narrowly missing them both.
The signal operator in the nearby box had seen the accident and signalled to the driver, who had put the emergency brakes on, but the train did not come to a complete halt until it was past the station.
It still had such momentum as it sped past Ms Gale that, had it struck the car and become derailed, there could have been a serious accident involving the stationary train waiting at the station.
The awards organisers said that without a doubt, Ms Gale's selfless bravery saved two lives but that it was impossible to tell how many more might have been lost had she not acted.
They said that the silver medal is a rare accolade - but one truly deserved by the 'remarkable woman'.
The award has been made on the recommendation of British Transport Police and a date for its presentation has yet to be announced.

Doesn't look like the sort of location where trains "roar past"