Brenton
Train Crash in Murray Valley Highway, Victiria
June 5th 2007 11:39
-From Wikinews.
At least ten people have been killed, and more than fifty injured, when a V/Line passenger train and a semi trailer collided at a level crossing on the Murray Valley Highway in northern Victoria, Australia. At least 13 more are still missing and are believed to be trapped in the wreckage.
The collision, which occured at 1:40pm local time, was approximately 10 km north of the town of Kerang, on the Swan Hill railway line.
The train involved in the accident was a service from Swan Hill, which departed at 1:00pm from Swan Hill railway station, and was destined for Melbourne. The train was comprised of a locomotive and three carriages.
Witness reports say that the semi-trailer collided into the second of the three carriages, and then detatched the third carriage from the remainder of the train and causing it to derail.
The whole side of the second carriage has reportedly been ripped open from the direct impact of the semi-trailer. The train's two engines derailed and flipped on their sides and are completely separated from the remaining four cars as a result of the accident, according to witnesses.
The injured have been transferred from the scene to hospitals in the area, including Kerang and Mildura, by ambulance. Helicopters and light aircraft have been used to transfer patients to Melbourne, as local hospitals struggle with the sudden influx of patients. The driver of the semi-trailer has been moved to the hospital in Mildura in a 'critical condition', according to police at the scene.
The train had 39 people on board the 1:00pm service, according to train documents. This included three staff employed by the train operator V/Line, who have all been accounted for and are not injured. Of the 36 passengers on the train, it has been reported that 23 have suffered injuries.
Reports say six people were airlifted to Melbourne for treatement, however one has since died. The remaining seventeen have been mobed to regional hospitals, including the temporary relief centre in Kerang, according to a Rural Ambulance Service spokesperson.
Although there are still 13 people unaccounted for, police say it is possible that some had bought tickets and were therefore listed on the train manifest, but did not end up catching the service.
Premier of Victoria Steve Bracks is expected to fly to the crash scene this evening. He has ordered a full investigation into the incident. Federal Minister for Transport Mark Vaile has offered Federal government assistance from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to help with the investigation. The Prime Minister John Howard has offered the Victorian government any additional aid that is requires in the aftermath of this incident.
Train operators V/Line have set up an emergency hotline to assist relatives and friends of those on the train recieve information. The number is 1800 800 120.
All text created after September 25, 2005 is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License unless otherwise specified.
Wikinews® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
At least ten people have been killed, and more than fifty injured, when a V/Line passenger train and a semi trailer collided at a level crossing on the Murray Valley Highway in northern Victoria, Australia. At least 13 more are still missing and are believed to be trapped in the wreckage.
The collision, which occured at 1:40pm local time, was approximately 10 km north of the town of Kerang, on the Swan Hill railway line.
The train involved in the accident was a service from Swan Hill, which departed at 1:00pm from Swan Hill railway station, and was destined for Melbourne. The train was comprised of a locomotive and three carriages.
Witness reports say that the semi-trailer collided into the second of the three carriages, and then detatched the third carriage from the remainder of the train and causing it to derail.
The whole side of the second carriage has reportedly been ripped open from the direct impact of the semi-trailer. The train's two engines derailed and flipped on their sides and are completely separated from the remaining four cars as a result of the accident, according to witnesses.
The injured have been transferred from the scene to hospitals in the area, including Kerang and Mildura, by ambulance. Helicopters and light aircraft have been used to transfer patients to Melbourne, as local hospitals struggle with the sudden influx of patients. The driver of the semi-trailer has been moved to the hospital in Mildura in a 'critical condition', according to police at the scene.
The train had 39 people on board the 1:00pm service, according to train documents. This included three staff employed by the train operator V/Line, who have all been accounted for and are not injured. Of the 36 passengers on the train, it has been reported that 23 have suffered injuries.
Reports say six people were airlifted to Melbourne for treatement, however one has since died. The remaining seventeen have been mobed to regional hospitals, including the temporary relief centre in Kerang, according to a Rural Ambulance Service spokesperson.
Although there are still 13 people unaccounted for, police say it is possible that some had bought tickets and were therefore listed on the train manifest, but did not end up catching the service.
Premier of Victoria Steve Bracks is expected to fly to the crash scene this evening. He has ordered a full investigation into the incident. Federal Minister for Transport Mark Vaile has offered Federal government assistance from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to help with the investigation. The Prime Minister John Howard has offered the Victorian government any additional aid that is requires in the aftermath of this incident.
Train operators V/Line have set up an emergency hotline to assist relatives and friends of those on the train recieve information. The number is 1800 800 120.
All text created after September 25, 2005 is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License unless otherwise specified.
Wikinews® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
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This is a big disaster.
It is already being called the worst train accident in 50 years.
Comment by Brenton
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You always assume Australia is the place you won't be randomly placed in danger.