A 48-YEAR-OLD woman died after she plunged in front of a busy commuter train as it pulled into Darwen Station.

Police said Concetta Carnovale, of Church Terrace, Darwen, was seen to jump off the platform at 4.45pm yesterday in front of the train from Manchester Victoria to Clitheroe.

Her body was trapped under the wheels of the train for more than an hour and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mrs Carnovale lived with her husband Angelo in Church Terrace, Darwen. They have three sons, Gianni, 28, Luigi, 30 and Franco, 27.

Today Gianni, of Spring Vale, Garden Village, Darwen, said he had last seen his mother on Saturday.

"She seemed fine, but she had been depressed for a while. It was as if her mind had just gone. I think the doctor had taken her off her medication. This came as a big shock," he said.

A passer-by at the station said: "This is absolutely tragic. She apparently came to the station and asked people what time the train was due at Darwen before walking up to the platform."

A spokesman for North Western Trains said the train driver, from Manchester, was sent home after the incident.

The spokesman said: "He was shaken but did not need any hospital treatment.

"This sort of incident does cause drivers a lot of problems. Some get over it fairly quickly while others need counselling and it preys on their mind for a long time."

The station was cordoned off by British Transport Police for two hours while the emergency services worked to clear the area.

Services were disrupted for more than 90 minutes and 12 trains were delayed.

The police have not released Mrs Carnovale's body to her family.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said they believed a number of people may have seen what happened and then left the scene. Witnesses should contact them on 0800 405040.

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