19 injured as fast train hits flat-bed truck in Poland

A fast train has hit a flat-bed truck at an unguarded railway crossing in south-western Poland, sending 19 people to hospital — including seven with life-threatening injuries — officials have said.

Key points:

• 19 people hospitalised with 7 seriously injured
• The train was carrying 300 passengers and partially derailed
• The truck was hit at a crossing with no barriers, only warning lights

A number of other people suffered less severe injuries in the collision.

The accident occurred around 3:00pm local time in the village of Schodnia, when a Pendolino intercity train carrying some 300 passengers hit the vehicle, Pawel Fratczak, the spokesman for national firefighters, told reporters.

The train partially derailed but remained upright. The truck driver was not hurt, Mr Fratczak said.

Source: Seven seriously injured as fast train hits flat-bed truck in Poland – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)