A high speed train in France collided with a military truck at a level crossing in the northern Pas-de-Calais region, leaving at least one person dead and dozens injured.
The train, a TGV service traveling from Dunkirk to Paris, struck the truck during morning rush hour near the town of Noeux-les-Mines. The impact caused several carriages to derail, bringing rail traffic in the area to a standstill.
The train driver, a 56 year old man, is feared to have died after reportedly suffering cardiac arrest at the scene despite emergency efforts to revive him. The truck driver sustained serious injuries, while at least 27 passengers were treated for mostly minor injuries.
Emergency services responded quickly, evacuating passengers and securing the crash site. Authorities deployed buses to transport stranded travelers as rail operations on the affected line were suspended in both directions.
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot and SNCF chief Jean Castex were expected to visit the scene as investigations began into how the military vehicle came to be on the crossing at the time of the collision.
The incident has renewed concerns about safety at level crossings, particularly involving heavy vehicles, as well as the vulnerability of high speed rail systems to unexpected obstacles on tracks.
Rail services in the region are expected to face significant delays as authorities work to clear the wreckage and assess damage to infrastructure.
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