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• Matamata-piako Mayor Adrienne Wilcock has vowed to prevent future tragedies after a student was fatally struck by a train yesterday. 
• Police and WorkSafe have launched an investigation into the death near Matamata College. 
• Wilcock emphasised the importance of the coroner’s report for making safety recommendations. 

The mayor of the community where a young girl died after being struck by a train says she will do everything she can to prevent it from happening again. 

Matamata-piako Mayor Adrienne Wilcock said the Matamata College student was from a well-known family and her community is mourning the “tragedy”. 

Police and WorkSafe have opened an investigation into the incident. 

Wilcock said she would be assisting relevant authorities to see if anything could have been done to prevent the tragedy. 

She said she would be looking at recommendations to see if a fence is required along the roadside of the tracks across from the school. 

Mayor Adrienne Wilcock said she would be looking for recommendations on whether to put a fence on the roadside of the tracks across from the school. Photo / Google Maps 

She said she had sent her condolences to the school and the girl’s family, who had been in the community for generations. 

“Everyone will be in mourning, everyone will be in shock.” 

She said people were feeling “very raw” and the shockwaves of the young girl’s death were being felt across the tight-knit community. 

She said “critical information” would come from the coroner’s report and they would make changes based on those recommendations. 

“It’ll be a question of what can be done to avoid more tragedies like this in the future.” 

Wilcock urged her community to “lean on each other” for support while investigations take place. 

The incident occurred around 3.15pm yesterday at the intersection of College St and Firth St, near Matamata College. 

Emergency services at the scene yesterday. Photo / Maryana Garcia 

In an update shortly after 7pm, police said despite receiving medical attention, the young girl died at the scene. 

Hato Hone St John said it was notified of an incident on Firth St, Matamata, at 3.17pm, sending an ambulance, two helicopters, one rapid response vehicle and an operations manager. 

A reporter at the scene said a freight train was stopped on the tracks at the Farmers Rd railway crossing, with the barrier arms down and lights flashing. 

A spokesperson for KiwiRail said the collision did not happen at a level crossing. 

Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the Herald since 2022.