On the northeastern Barrier Highway in South Australia, a train and a semi-trailer collided, resulting in the deaths of two train drivers.
About 10.30 am, a major crash occurred at Bindarrah, 30 kilometres from the NSW border. As a result, police and emergency services rushed, blocking the Barrier Highway in both directions.
Two men, ages 48 and 57, died when a goods train with more than 20 carriages crashed with the vehicle.
A Queensland truck driver, 75, was sent to Broken Hill Hospital with minor wounds.
The train operator verified the fatalities.
“It is with great sadness Pacific National confirms the death of two of our Port Augusta train crew following a serious incident where our locomotive collided with a truck,” stated the statement.
“Our first priority is to ensure the highest level of care to the families of our drivers who have tragically died.”
In order to ascertain the precise cause of the incident, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau launched an inquiry today and intended to send out experts with rail experience from Adelaide.
Port Augusta cranes were en route to the scene to help with the cleanup.
Authorities issued a warning, saying the road will be stopped “for some time”.
In a statement earlier today, SA Police stated, “Motorists coming from NSW will not be able to travel past Broken Hill on the Barrier Highway into SA.”
“Motorists travelling east will not be able to travel past Petersburg Road – Peterborough turnoff.”
