A TEENAGE girl who lost both her legs after being run over by a train had been released from police custody just two days earlier.

The 18-year-old had been arrested three days before the tragedy at the same stretch of railway track, where police believe she was trying to take her own life.

However, the teenager was taken back to her family - and then tried to kill herself once again, say police.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Daily Echo, the girl has lost both her legs following the incident on Tuesday. She is currently in Southampton General Hospital.

Officers say that the girl, who the Daily Echo is not naming, was lying on the track and was then run over by a train travelling through Chandler's Ford.

The girl's parents said: "This has been a traumatic and devastating experience for our family.

"Our thoughts are with the train driver and we appreciate the work that British Transport Police and emergency workers did at the scene.

"Our focus is now on our daughter and we wish to remain in privacy."

The involvement of Hampshire police will now be investigated by an independent body that regulates complaints and helps forces to learn lessons when something has gone wrong.

Constabulary bosses notified the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) when it became apparent that they had been in contact with the girl.

It is the second referral of its kind this month following the death of Sara Clark, also 18, who plunged to her death from a bridge over the M27 after reporting to police that she had been raped.

Sara was found dead on Saturday, June 2 - three days after making the allegations.

A spokesman for Hampshire police confirmed that before this Tuesday's incident, officers had been in contact with the victim.

"She was arrested on the evening of Saturday, June 16, while trying to take her life at the same location. She was released to her family on the morning of Sunday, June 17," the spokesman said.

A spokesman for the IPCC said: "We have had a referral from Hampshire Constabulary and we are now deciding on how it should be investigated."