Ignoring warnings to break through the barriers a lorry driver first attempted to reverse off a level crossing. The driver's hesitation left his vehcile still on the tracks when a intercity train came through.
A lorry driver ignored warnings that he should break through the barriers at a level crossing in Gdańsk, Poland, moments before his vehicle was struck by a train.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The driver's lorry had become stuck when barriers came down while the vehicle was making its way across the tracks.
CCTV shows a PKP Intercity train, the country's national long-distance rail operator, travelling from Gdynia to Zielona Góra collide with the lorry at about 1:20 pm CET.
The manager of the national rail network, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PLK), reported witnesses signalled to the driver to break through the barrier and leave the crossing as quickly as possible.
Instead he attempted to reverse and then finally attempted to break through the barrier in front of him but not in time to avoid the on rushing train.
The train driver was taken to hospital and the lorry driver and the approximately 250 train passengers were not injured.
After the accident, train traffic on the Pruszcz Gdański–Gdańsk Południowy section was suspended. Services were diverted via alternative routes and the disruption lasted for several hours. Full rail traffic was restored after 11 pm.
The incident is under investigation by a special commission and the rail network reminded the public that if a vehicle is trapped between the barrier it must break through and leave the crossing immediately.