Bindarrah truck crash: Heavy vehicle driver charged over train collision that killed two people in South Australia

A truck driver has been charged in connection with a horror crash between a truck and a train that left two people dead.

A Pacific National freight train crashed with a truck at Bindarrah in South Australia, about 30km west of the NSW border, on Sunday morning.

The train and truck were traveling in opposite directions along the Barrier Highway when the impact occurred.

South Africa police and emergency services responded to the incident at around 10:30 am.

The impact of the crash caused the train to catch fire, derailing and overturning several carriages, blocking the entire highway.

Two train workers from Port Augusta, aged 48 and 57, died in the crash, the railway company confirmed.

Editorial police were called to Bindarrah this morning following reports of a truck and train accident

The 75-year-old Queensland truck driver was taken to Broken Hill Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.

He has since been charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

The man has not applied for bail and will remain in custody until he appears in the Port Pirie Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The Barrier Highway remains closed in both directions between Peterborough and the NSW border, and is expected to be closed for most of Monday.

Travelers from NSW cannot enter SA via the Barrier Highway.

Cranes are on site hoping to clear the containers and debris from the road.

“It is with great sadness that Pacific National confirms the death of two of our train crew in Port Augusta following a serious incident involving our locomotive colliding with a truck at a junction in Bindarrah in South Australia, near the New South Wales border,” the statement said. a company spokesperson. said Sunday.

“Pacific National takes the safety of its employees very seriously and has notified regulators who are investigating.

“This incident has had a profound impact across the organization and our first priority is to ensure the highest level of care is provided to the families of our drivers who have tragically lost their lives.”

Pacific National is a privately held company that transports general cargo, import/export cargo, and bulk cargo.

Editorial police were called to Bindarrah this morning following reports of a truck and train accident

Editorial Supplied Two train drivers die in horror truck accident on Barrier Highway, Bindarrah

NSW Police and other emergency services assisted SA Police and Major Crash Investigators at the scene.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the incident and will deploy Adelaide-based transport safety investigators with experience in train and rail operations to the site.

'As part of their evidence collection activities, investigators will examine railway infrastructure and rolling stock, interview involved parties and any witnesses, examine truck and train operational information, recover all relevant components for further investigation in the ATSB laboratories in Canberra and analyze all recorded data. information,” the security service said in a statement.

'The scope of the investigation and timeframe will be determined as the ATSB gains further insight into the nature of the accident.

'The ATSB will issue a final report at the end of the investigation, detailing the analysis and findings.

'If critical safety issues are identified at any point during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will promptly notify relevant parties so that appropriate safety action can be taken.'

The deaths of the two men mark the 115th and 116th lives lost on South Australia's roads in 2023, compared to 71 in 2022.