A video captured the dramatic moment when a heavy goods vehicle sped toward a level crossing while the warning bell rang, only to be struck by a train, causing it to derail. Despite the train driver sounding the horn, the truck continued forward, leading to a collision that crushed the front of the train against the cab, resulting in debris scattering near Chýnov, Czech Republic, around 1:30 pm on Thursday.
The impact was so powerful that one train carriage derailed, veering off the tracks as the train came to a stop. The damaged rail car ended up diagonally across the tracks, emitting smoke from underneath. The fire service successfully rescued 25 individuals from the train, with 20 being passengers.
The lorry driver sustained serious injuries from the crash, while the train operator and two passengers suffered minor to moderate injuries, according to local authorities. The train incurred an estimated £172,000 in damages, while the railway infrastructure suffered around £3,400 in losses. The truck itself faced damages worth approximately £34,000.
Vojtěch Míra, the spokesperson for the South Bohemian Ambulance Service, mentioned that all available ambulance crews from Tábor, along with an air ambulance helicopter, were dispatched to the scene. The lorry driver, in critical condition, was airlifted to a hospital in České Budějovice. Three train passengers, with minor to moderate injuries, were also transported to a medical facility.
The accident investigation concluded on the same day by 5 pm. The derailed carriage was lifted back onto the tracks at 7:44 pm and subsequently removed from the site by 9 pm. Normal rail services resumed shortly after 11 pm.
