Video: School bus trapped on level crossing as train approaches

Manningtree - A bus driver who tried to force his vehicle across a level crossing in Manningtree Essex, found himself trapped between the closing barriers while a train bore down on his bus at full speed.

Marcus Lamm, 21, saw the lights flashing, giving warning that a train was approaching. He saw the gates closing, yet he chose to force his way through. The video shows the bus, trapped on the tracks, unable to make it across before the barrier closed because of a slow moving tractor ahead. A rail employee who saw Lamm trying to force his way through the barrier lifted the gates hurriedly to allow the bus to squeeze past. But the driver stopped beneath the gates, and it crashed down on the roof of the vehicle repeatedly. The UK Express reports that fortunately, Lamm had just dropped off schoolchildren and the bus was empty. But his action placed his life and that of the train driver at great risk. According to the Daily Mail, Lamm, of Willow Way, Jaywick, appeared at the Colchester Magistrate's Court after his reckless driving was captured on CCTV. He admitted to driving without due attention and care. The former Tendring Technology College student, who lost his job after the incident, claimed he had not seen the warning lights and that he thought he had enough time to get across. He said: "I had been sitting waiting for the train to come past with the barrier down. It came up and I followed with the traffic that was moving. It was safe at the time. I didn't see any lights as I went through but obviously they were flashing. I don't know what happened between me moving off and getting stuck." The Telegraph reports he was fined "£300 fine, £100 court costs and had nine points on his licence." The chairman of the bench, Michael Mitchinson, said he could not believe that Lamm did not see the warning lights. Mitchinson said: "It is clear the lights turned before you even moved off. We accept you were following a tractor but you shouldn't have followed unless it was safe to clear the railway lines. Any excuses about not seeing the light don't really apply."