Train hits truck, throwing three carriages off railway, killing engine driver in Vietnam

A collision between a train carrying about 600 passengers and a truck occurred Tuesday night in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Tri, killing the engineer and severely injuring four others, including the truck driver. 

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The deadly accident happened on a railway section in Hai Lang District at 10:15 pm last night when the train, coded SE5, which was on its way from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, crashed into a truck carrying rocks that was crossing the line, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper correspondents reported from the scene.

The location is about 30km from the Dong Ha railway station in Quang Tri.

The impact cut the locomotive off from the remaining part of the train and threw three carriages, including two for passengers and another serving as a canteen, off the railway.

The train driver died inside the cabin, while the truck fell on its side.

Locals rushed to the scene to rescue the victims and then called the police.

A combined force of more than 100 people, including police officers, rescuers, health workers, and railway staff, were later mobilized to the scene to handle the accident.

Several lift trucks were also deployed to remove the overturned carriages. 

Nguyen Quan Chinh, deputy chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, arrived at the scene before 11:00 pm to direct rescue efforts.

At about 1:30 am on Wednesday, all the passengers and the remaining carriages were taken to the Dong Ha railway station, while the locomotive was brought to the Dien Sanh railway station nearby, where technicians cut it open to remove the body of the engine driver.

The body was later transported to his home city of Hue in central Vietnam for burial.

The provincial authorities have given VND5 million (US$240) to the dead victim’s relatives as initial support.

All the injured who were brought out of the three carriages were taken to Quang Tri General Hospital for treatment.

News website VietNamNet said dozens of people were maimed in the accident, while Dan Tri, another newswire, reported that four people were severely wounded, including the truck driver. 

At 2:10 am today, one more specialized crane truck was mobilized to the scene to clear the three carriages in order to resume traffic on the railway, Deputy Chairman Chinh said.

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