A fatal train collision resulted in the death of the train driver after a high-speed train crashed into a truck at a level crossing earlier today. The incident took place at a level crossing in Noeux-les-Mines, around 50 miles east of Calais, as reported by French media. The crash involved a TGV train on the Dunkirk-Paris line colliding with an army truck trailer.
According to initial police reports, the train driver lost his life in the accident. Initially, it was stated that over 30 individuals were injured, including the truck driver. However, updated information from French media indicates that two people are in critical condition, while 11 others sustained injuries.
François-Xavier Lauch, the prefect of the department, mentioned in a morning press conference that the TGV train hit the lorry at a speed of 160 km/h (99.4 mph) and traveled several hundred meters before stopping. The driver of the truck involved in the collision has been detained, as confirmed by Béthune’s public prosecutor, Etienne Thieffry.
An investigation into manslaughter has been initiated in response to the incident. TGV trains are renowned as one of the world’s fastest conventional rail services, capable of operating at speeds up to 320 km/h (200 mph) on high-speed lines. In 2007, a modified TGV (V150) set a world rail speed record of 574.8 km/h (356 mph).
The exact speed of the train at the time of the crash remains unknown. Images of the damaged train sections following the collision have been captured, and the affected rail section is expected to remain closed for the day. Firefighters and law enforcement personnel were seen at the crash site involving a TGV high-speed train and a military equipment transport truck this morning.
The French Federation of Rail Workers’ Unions expressed shock over the morning’s incident, demanding transparency and commitments from public authorities regarding the tragic accident. The truck involved in the collision was part of a military convoy transporting a mobile bridge, as reported by French news sources. The crash site displayed emergency crews assisting a person from the wrecked train.
Reports from Le Monde indicate that two individuals are in critical condition, with 11 others sustaining less severe injuries. Conflicting figures were initially provided regarding the number of injured individuals, ranging from 30 to 27. The train carried 243 passengers when the crash occurred between Béthune and Lens in the Pas-de-Calais region, according to SNCF, the rail operator.
The rail line operator announced disruptions in train services until the end of the day due to the incident. Buses have been called to evacuate passengers, and the mayor of Mazingarbe confirmed at least 30 injuries resulting from the crash. Emergency services are actively engaged at the crash site, with the French Transport Minister Philippe Tabaro and SNCF’s President-Director General Jean Castex planning to visit the scene.