Grandfather, 71, killed alongside his 15-year-old grandson in a ‘ball of fire ...

A grandfather and his teenage grandson were killed by a train when the 71-year-old deliberately drove onto a level cross while the half-barriers were down, an inquest has ruled. 

Barry Hearnshaw was giving his grandson, Will Hallett, 15, a lift to a Saturday morning football match on February 17 last year. Mr Hearnshaw ignored flashing red lights and drove round a safety barrier where their Kia Rio 4x4 was struck. 

Both Mr Hearnshaw, a retired headteacher, and Will, a talented footballer, were killed instantly when the car exploded in the village of Barns Green, near Horsham, West Sussex.  with the front of the vehicle propelled some 33 metres down the train track. 

An inquest into their deaths found Will Hallett was unlawfully killed while Barry Hearnshaw’s death was accidental.

The jury ruled that Mr Hallett had been killed after his grandfather disregarded the warning signs and attempted to cross the railway tracks in his car.

The family were too upset to speak about the case after the conclusion of the inquest. 

William Hallett, 15, and Barry Hearnshaw, 71, (pictured together) were killed in the devastating collision as they made their way to a football match together in Barns Green, West Sussex

William Hallett, 15, and Barry Hearnshaw, 71, (pictured together) were killed in the devastating collision as they made their way to a football match together in Barns Green, West Sussex

Earlier the family say the suggestion Mr Hearnshaw drove round the half-barriers that are in place at Barns Green was 'absurd.' 

But at an inquest into their deaths a police crash investigator said that evidence showed that despite red flashing lights and a lowered half-barrier, Mr Hearnshaw drove onto the tracks in an attempt to get to the other side. 

The inquest jury was shown an animated reconstruction of the tragedy by PC Banks showing the blue Kia passing the barrier on the wrong side of the road and driving over the crossing before its rear end is hit by the train.

After presenting his evidence PC Banks, who has now retired from Sussex Police, said: 'I'm confident the vehicle was wholly on the wrong side of the road and was heading for the right side when it was struck.

'It was taking a diagonal path from the wrong side of the road to the correct side of the road.'

Mr Banks, a former forensic collision investigator, added: 'The cause would appear to lie with Mr Hearnshaw who contravened the flashing red lights and barriers in attempting to cross the tracks.' 

He said physical evidence, such as gouge marks on the crossing, showed the car was on the wrong side of the road when it was hit. 

Mr Banks said: 'I can't say why he did it or why he chose to to it but the physical evidence all indicates that the vehicle has taken a steered path on the wrong side of the road and was attempting to get back on the right side of the road. 

'I'm confident the vehicle was wholly on the wrong side of the road and was heading for the right side when it was struck. 

'It was taking a diagonal path from the wrong side of the road to the correct side of the road.' 

But Mr

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