Rail-line tragedy mum in lights call

Cynthia Owen, of Chester Avenue, East Worthing, feels Drayton level crossing in Chichester, where her 23-year-old daughter, Hayley, was electrocuted last December at the end of a night out with friends, is too dark and unsafe.

Mrs Owen spoke out at the end of the inquest into Hayley's death at Arundel Town Hall yesterday (Wednesday).

She said: "I will be campaigning for more lighting at the level crossing. There's a nightclub, Thursday's, by the crossing and something needs to be done to make it safer for the youngsters coming out of the club."

The inquest heard that Hayley, who lived with her two-year-old son Kieran in Butler Court, Littlehampton Road, Tarring, died on December 4 after stumbling onto the railway line after a night out at Thursday's nightclub in Chichester.

Hayley had an argument with friends at the end of the night and ran off, chased by friend Sophie Elsmore. But Hayley got onto the railway line and was electrocuted.

West Sussex coroner Roger Stone recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Miss Elsmore, of Church Walk, East Worthing, said at the inquest: "I met Hayley and a group of friends in Worthing and we later went to Chichester by minibus. Hayley was drinking and was tipsy by the time we got to Thursday's.

"I left the nightclub, but came back between 2.30am and 3am as it was closing. They were outside and Hayley was sitting on her own. She had had a bit of a row with a friend. The taxi arrived, but Hayley wouldn't get into it."

Hayley, who Sophie described as drunk at this point, ran off and Sophie chased after her.

Hayley took off her shoes and ran across a field and laid down in the road, before getting up and going onto the railway line.

Sophie said Hayley managed to get across the wooden cattle grids '“ sharp devices put alongside all level crossings to stop people walking onto the line '“ but she couldn't.

Sophie added: "I didn't know the rail was live and I don't think Hayley did either."

A post mortem on Hayley's body was carried out by Dr Julia Conroy, of St Richard's Hospital in Chichester.

She revealed Hayley had drunk three times the legal drink-drive limit on the night she died and would have been very disorientated and not able to think clearly.

Inspector Michael Morriss said at the inquest there were lights at the crossing, but

Hayley had walked down the railway line into the darkness.

Giving his verdict, Mr Stone said: "The cause of what happened was down to the amount of alcohol. If the alcohol had not been there she would not have attempted what she did."