Woman escapes ute stuck on train tracks

An allegedly drunk woman had a lucky escape when a speeding freight train smashed into her ute on a suburban Perth railway crossing.

The ute got stuck after it apparently veered off the shoulder of the road at the crossing in Herne Hill on Saturday night.

Passers-by tried to help the driver move the vehicle, but the effort was abandoned as a freight train approached about 11.40pm (WST).

The train ploughed into the ute, destroying the vehicle and damaging the train and boom gates.

Police spoke to a woman at the scene who claimed to be the driver.

She failed a breath test and police are still trying to confirm if she was behind the wheel.