This is the heartbreaking moment a truck driver stuck at a level crossing had to jump to safety seconds before a freight train destroyed his vehicle.
Images from a shocked witness showed the truck filled with construction rubble getting stuck at the A2 junction between Marienborn and Belsdorf in the Börde district of Saxony-Anhalt around noon on Friday.
The freight train, carrying several brand new Audis, crashed into the truck, dragging it at high speed as the driver desperately tried to brake.
Debris could be seen being thrown from far and high.
German newspaper Bild reported that debris and parts from the destroyed truck were dragged for more than 100 meters as the cargo ship came to a stop.
An emergency worker on the scene told the newspaper: ‘A technical defect led to the accident.
‘The truck driver just managed to make an emergency call before running to safety.’
Local media reported that the driver suffered only minor injuries in the crash, although both the truck and locomotive were completely destroyed.
Images from a shocked witness show how the truck filled with construction rubble got stuck at the A2 junction between Marienborn and Belsdorf in the Börde district of Saxony-Anhalt around noon on Friday.
The freight train, carrying several brand new Audis, crashed into the truck and dragged it at high speed as the driver desperately tried to brake.
Debris could be seen being thrown from far and high
It was reported that the level crossing would be closed until at least Wednesday as authorities investigated and clarified the incident.
As a result, major train routes were severely disrupted.
Long-distance trains to and from Hannover were therefore diverted via Wolfsburg and Stendal, leading to additional journey times of 20 minutes.
There were also partial road closures across the region.