By Bruce Fegen

A 23-YEAR-OLD Fife man had a miraculous escape last night when his car was struck by a train just minutes after he had scrambled free.

The vehicle had careered down an embankment and ended up on the main east coast railway line.

As the driver of the Vauxhall Corsa fled, the 17.12 Edinburgh-Carnoustie train smashed into the car and shoved it more than 400 yards down the line and into a bridge north of Markinch.

The train and carriages managed to stay upright and their driver and passengers were fortunate to escape unhurt.

Crews from Fife Fire and Rescue Service used a spine board to bring the injured car driver back up to the roadside, where an ambulance was waiting.

He was taken to Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline but his injuries are not thought to be serious.

The alarm was raised shortly after 6pm when the car driver, who has not been named, apparently lost control of his silver Corsa on the A92, some 150 yards south of the New Inn roundabout at Kirkforthar.

It appears the car crossed a field before going down the embankment, stopping on the railway line.

The driver was able to free himself and used his mobile phone to raise the alarm.

But it was too late to halt the northbound train—which had just left Markinch for Dundee and Carnoustie.

The wrecked vehicle was left wedged against the side of a bridge.

It is understood there were only around 20 passengers on the train and a British Transport Police spokeswoman confirmed none was hurt.

They were later taken back to Markinch to continue their journey.

The line was closed in both directions for several hours as a result of the accident and late last night work was still going on to clear the wreckage.

British Transport Police are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed the accident to contact them on 0800 405040, or to contact Fife police.