A freight train has ploughed into a car abandoned by an Oamaru driver taking a shortcut home along the railway tracks.
The man's car had become stuck on the lines in the town about 4:45am, a police southern communications spokesman said. The driver got out but couldn't get the attention of the train driver before it smashed into the car.
The man was not at the scene when the police arrived but they found him at home. He was known to have used the lines to get home before.
Oamaru police were making further inquiries to determine whether charges would be laid.
A Kiwirail spokeswoman said the freight train was not damaged and the line reopened soon after the crash.
NZN