A KiwiRail engineer is recovering after being assaulted as he tried to stop a group of children playing "chicken" on a Waikato railway bridge.
After driving the freight train across the Ngaruawahia Railway bridge, the engineer stopped to talk to the group who pelted him with rocks and bottles.
KiwiRail spokesperson, Kevin Ramshaw said the bridge has been a problem area for some time. Seven years ago a 9-year old child was killed walking across the bridge.
Jumping off the bridge into the river is considered a local rite of passage, Mr Ramshaw said.
He hopes parents will impress on their children the dangers involved.
Kevin Ramshaw said the engineer will be returning to work shortly.
