David Hallett | The Southland Times

Two people, believed to be farm workers, are dead and a man is fighting for his life after their car and a freight train collided near Rakaia in Mid-Canterbury.

The three occupants were thrown from the car, an older-model Holden Commodore that was shunted into a farm paddock.

The force of the impact cut the car in half, and clothing was left strewn across the paddock yesterday afternoon.

The country's main trunk rail line remained closed last night.

Ashburton police sub-area manager Senior Sergeant Grant Russell said the car was traveling west on Hatfield-Overdale Rd, off State Highway 1, when it and a south-bound freight train collided at a level crossing at 1.50pm.

"It's too early to say who is at fault," he said. "The train driver has been spoken to, and he's doing remarkably well."

Russell said the victims were from the Ashburton district and would be named after family had been notified.

Fire, police and ambulance attended the scene, while the Westpac rescue helicopter flew the injured man, believed to be in his 20s, to Christchurch Hospital.

A nearby farm worker, who declined to be named, said he heard the train sound its horn before it crashed into the car.

Rail safety campaigner and former international cricketer Chris Cairns said he was saddened to learn of the level-crossing collision.

The deaths were a reminder of the dangers associated with level crossings.

"I can relate to how the families of those involved will be feeling today, and my sincere condolences go out to them."

Cairns' sister Louise was killed in a level-crossing accident near Rolleston in 1993, when a cement truck failed to stop at a level crossing and collided with the passenger train on which she was traveling.

Two other women also died.

Over 100 people had since died at level crossings, Cairns said.

"I am committed to ensuring that people understand their responsibilities at level crossings and that this number does not continue to grow."

KiwiRail network chief operating officer William Peet said the level crossing was protected by give-way signs and had unimpeded views to the north, the direction from which the train was coming.

It was the third crash at the crossing the previous two were in 2007 and 1980. In 2007, a truck driver had to be cut free by firefighters after his dump-truck collided with a freight train derailing the train's wagons.

The driver was flown to hospital with minor head injuries and lacerations.

Peet said there were 1400 public level crossings around New Zealand and only half of them were protected by alarms.

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About 10 crossings were upgraded a year, but this crossing did not qualify because of light traffic use and its unimpeded view lines.

There have been 12 collisions at public level crossings around New Zealand this year.

"Fatal level-crossing collisions are always a tragedy," Peet said.

"Our thoughts are with the families of those involved and also with the locomotive engineer and his family."

The locomotive engineer was badly shaken and had been offered counseling, he said.

"He will not return to duty until he and KiwiRail are satisfied he is ready for work again."