Man killed on level crossing while fleeing police

A 20-year-old man died when he was struck by a train as he attempted to evade police.

The man was killed after hurdling a level crossing barrier following a pursuit in Enfield, north London, at about 5.30pm yesterday.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said officers attempted to stop a Mercedes CLK 230 car - thought to have been uninsured - on Ordnance Road a short time before the tragedy.

He said two men, aged 21 and 22, were arrested after leaving the vehicle at Enfield Lock level crossing when the safety barriers came down.

A third person in the vehicle was killed after he climbed over a level crossing barrier on to the train track and was hit by a northbound train.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination will be held in due course.

The spokesman said the pursuit lasted a "few hundred yards" and added the incident was referred to the force's professional standards department to investigate.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission was also informed.