A freight train narrowly avoided a deadly catastrophe after a truck sped through a railway crossing, with the driver apparently unaware that they were seconds away from almost certain death.
Shocking footage from inside the freight train showed the B-double truck driving on the tracks moments before the 1,800m-long train approached WA’s Goldfields Esperance region on Saturday.
The train driver managed to avoid disaster when he slammed on the brakes after realizing that the truck was not going to stop in time.
His quick thinking prevented a “serious collision” as the rear of the truck barely grazed the front of the train.
Rail transport operator Aurizon released the terrifying images in the hope that the situation will help prevent deaths and increase road user vigilance at railway crossings.
A train narrowly avoided a catastrophe on Saturday when a truck (pictured) sped through a railway crossing, with the driver apparently unaware that they were seconds away from almost certain death.
“Train crew at one of our Western Australian depots asked Aurizon to provide the community with this near-miss video, taken from the front of a locomotive on Saturday lunchtime in the Goldfields Esperance region,” reads a statement.
‘Only seconds separate our crew from a serious collision. Our drivers hope that the video will help raise awareness among HGV drivers and operators of the need to be vigilant when using these regional junctions.’
The rail operator added that the latest incident followed a series of near misses and collisions at level crossings for Australian freight rail companies.
This included the tragic incident on New Year’s Eve when two Pacific National industry colleagues were killed in a level crossing collision with a truck in South Australia.
Aurizon has since spoken with the transportation company involved in the near-miss.
‘We greatly appreciate your efforts in communicating the incident to the driver and your employees in general. “The more we can do, the better,” the company added.
Aurizon also acknowledged that many factors contributed to the level crossing incidents.
‘Collectively, we must step up efforts and investment to improve the safety of our train crew and the wider community.
“This includes the rail and road industries, all levels of government, law enforcement and road safety agencies, and the broader community.”
The driver of the freight train managed to avoid disaster when he slammed on the brakes after seeing that the road train (pictured) was not going to stop.
Dramatic footage of the terrifying incident has since gone viral online.
The truck driver must be held accountable! Nice fine and loss of permit… people don’t understand how this kind of negligence can affect the train crew,” commented one viewer.
Another added: “Imprisonment for transport company officials for serious incidents with the driver.”
A third wrote: ‘There are lights at that junction. They should be charged for not stopping as instructed.’