Drunk Ford Fiesta Driver Ploughs Onto Live Train Tracks
A woman drove her Ford Fiesta straight onto a live railway line while drunk – sparking a near-disaster and a police probe.
Tayler Barnham Slapped With Suspended Sentence
Tayler Barnham, 29, from Guinevere Terrace, Rochester, pleaded guilty at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on 11 January. She admitted to driving without due care and drink driving.
On 2 February, Medway Magistrates’ Court handed down an eight-week suspended sentence for two years. Barnham was also banned from driving for two years, enforced with a 7pm-7am curfew for three months, plus £213 in costs.
Midnight Disaster on Kent Railway Line
On the night of 29 May 2021, Barnham was driving through rural Kent near Faversham. Approaching the level crossing on Monkshill Road just before midnight, she veered left onto the electrified railway track.
CCTV caught the shocking moment her car hit the third rail, triggering a 750-volt electrical discharge—“enough to kill you.” The Fiesta came to a sudden halt as crossing barriers dropped and a passenger train screeched to a halt just in time.
The frightened train driver alerted British Transport Police (BTP) immediately.
Incriminating Evidence and Denial
Before officers arrived, Barnham rang family and friends. A breath test later revealed she was more than three times over the legal drink-drive limit. An empty beer can was found in the car’s footwell.
In a twist, Barnham initially claimed in a pre-prepared statement she was not driving, but sitting in the passenger seat directing someone else. She later admitted in September 2021 that she was behind the wheel.
Detective Constable Mike Ganly blasted: “Barnham’s impetuous decision that evening could have resulted in tragic consequences. Not only did she put herself in grave danger, she caused significant risk to the safety of the passengers on the approaching train. I hope the footage of her ill-judged actions and her prosecution serves as a stark warning to anyone who may consider driving or stepping onto the tracks.”
