Picton train crash: The engine driver narrowly escapes before the freight train crashes into his lorry
- Truck driver avoids injury after train crashes into his rear trailer
- The truck stopped prematurely at a railroad crossing in Picton
A lorry driver narrowly escaped before a freight train crashed into his semi-trailer, which he stopped at a level crossing.
Footage from the spectacular collision just before noon on Wednesday near Picton, in southwest Sydney, shows the train carrying cement colliding with the lorry as the driver exits the cab.
A major emergency operation was launched, shutting down traffic in the area well into the evening.
Fortunately, the train driver was also able to walk away from the accident.
Dash cam video shows the driver fleeing the truck as the train honks its horn.
The train then collides with the rear trailer at a speed of approximately 60 km/h, causing part of the truck’s load to fall out.
Remarkably, the train remained on the track despite pushing the rear trailer aside.
“Initially it was a balanced response because of the potential that it would be a passenger train and possibly carry chemicals on the truck,” said NSW Rural Fire Service spokesman James Morris of the emergency effort.
Picton Fire and Rescue confirmed the freight train was carrying ‘900 tons of concrete’ at the time.
“Luckily there were no injuries or other major issues,” Picton Fire and Rescue wrote on Facebook.
The train remained on the track for some time after the collision, leading to significant delays for both truck drivers and commuters.
Footage from the spectacular collision just before noon near Picton, southwest Sydney, shows the train crashing into the lorry carrying cement
Picton Fire and Rescue confirmed the freight train was carrying ‘900 tons of concrete’ at the time
Numerous concrete truckers were seen waiting for the collision to clear so they could return to a concrete production center.
“(I) can’t go anywhere, might as well stay here,” a worker told 9News as he sat in a chair by the side of the road.
The collision on the freight line also delayed passenger trains.
“A limited number of buses are replacing trains between Picton and Campbelltown on the Southern Highlands Line due to an incident requiring emergency services near Picton,” said a statement from the Transport Management Center (TMC).
The TMC is investigating the cause of the collision.