SHOCKED Great Coates residents are still reeling from the tragic events of Tuesday night.
As investigations into how a Volvo V40 and passenger train collided on the village's level crossing continue, some have called for full barriers at the site.
Until 1987, the crossing was guarded by a signalman and four swing gates.
It was replaced in 1987 with the automated half barriers.
Michael Garnett, 73, of Woad Lane, has lived in Great Coates all his life and says he has never seen devastation like this before.
He said: "I heard the train's horn blow for some time and then there was this deep thud.
"The crash has shaken the whole village and I am sure it will be spoken about for some time.
"There have never been any issues with the level crossing here but the dangers need to be highlighted to avoid tragedies like this."
Claire Cetti, 36, also of Woad Lane, said: "I was sitting watching the TV when I heard the horn of the train.
"Then came this almighty bang and my daughter rushed downstairs.
"We went outside and down to the crossing where we saw the car smashed up.
"I stopped there until the emergency services came, but when I saw the men being taken out of the car I had to leave.
"Everyone is shaken by the news, I have lived here 15 years and this is the first incident of its kind in that time.
"I would be a lot happier if they put a double barrier up at the crossing instead of the half ones that are there now."
Brian Winterburn, 69, of Woad Lane, is a Great Coates parish councillor and a retired train fitter.
He recalls hearing the sound of the train horn and knowing immediately something was wrong.
He said: "I worked on trains for the past 28 years and I knew something was wrong as soon as I heard the long horn blast the other night.
"My wife, Lesley Winterburn, is a first aider so she went to the car to help.
"She knew the driver of the car was dead straight away but before she could offer any help an off-duty paramedic had arrived on the scene. We are all in shock but something must be done in response to all this.
"Changing the barriers to either double or a gate would be a good start.
"It does upset me to talk about the incident as it is such a tragedy."
Police said they were alerted by several calls from residents reporting hearing a loud bang just after 7.35pm on Tuesday.
Officers were dispatched and on arrival at the scene, it was clear there had been a collision.
Fire crews and ambulances also attended, and the road was closed off.
Train services were suspended, and residents rushed to the scene to see if they could do anything to help. One of the first on the scene was Richard Jarman, 49, of Station Road, who went to the trainline after hearing the train's horn sound for a prolonged time.
"I went to the car and tried talking to the driver but got no response."
He has already made steps towards highlighting his safety concerns.
He said: "I e-mailed Network Rail asking them to replace the half barriers with something safer such as full barriers.
"I will be disappointed if they do not listen to my request as a tragic event like this must not happen again."
The driver, a 47-year-old man from Grimsby, was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, a 40-year-old Cleethorpes man, died on the way to hospital.
The nation's media descended on the small village yesterday, and many news stations were broadcasting live from the scene.
