PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe published a video of a collision between a train and a truck at a railway crossing in the village of Nowa Sucha near Sochaczew (Mazovian Voivodeship). The truck driver has been charged with causing the danger of a catastrophe in transportation. He has pleaded not guilty, while the PKP PLK has estimated the damage at approximately 12 million zlotys.
The accident occurred on Tuesday, November 26, around 12:30 p.m. at a gated crossing with traffic lights. As a result of the collision between the Intercity train traveling from Bydgoszcz to Lublin and the truck, several people were slightly injured.
Driver waved at the train
On Wednesday, November 27, Polskie Linie Kolejowe published footage from cameras mounted near the barriers. The video shows the gates lowered, the red light flashing on the signal, and shortly after, a Koleje Mazowieckie train passes by.
Next, the barriers rise, but the red light on the signal continues to flash. "Access to the crossing is only possible when the signals are completely off and the barriers are set vertically. This is a particularly important rule on double-track lines," PKP said in a press release.
Vehicles then begin to move, with two cars crossing the tracks, followed by a dump truck. The first barrier is broken after contact with the vehicle. The driver stops the truck before the second barrier, which lowers right in front of the truck's windshield.
About 12 seconds later, the driver exits the cab and runs, waving his arms to the oncoming Intercity train's engineer, but it's already too late to stop the train.
Finally, the train hits the truck's cargo space with great force, pushing it into railway infrastructure and overturning it. The front of the train is severely damaged, and the carriages are derailed.
As reported by the authorities, the train was carrying 125 people - 120 passengers and five crew members. Both the truck driver and the train engineer were sober.
Charges against the driver
As a result of the accident, several people received medical assistance on-site. "None of the injured sustained injuries lasting more than seven days," reported Bartosz Maliszewski, spokesperson for the District Prosecutor's Office in Płock.
Emergency services worked at the crash site into the late hours, with a prosecutor present. Inspections were carried out, and surveillance footage was secured.
Police arrested the 57-year-old truck driver, who was questioned and charged with causing a danger of a traffic disaster. "The suspect did not admit guilt, providing explanations partially consistent with the evidence," added prosecutor Maliszewski. The driver was placed under preventive measures, such as freedom restrictions.
Under Article 174 of the Penal Code, causing a danger of a traffic disaster carries a penalty of imprisonment from six months to eight years, unless the perpetrator acted unintentionally, in which case the sentence could be up to three years.
High repair costs
PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe estimated the damage at approximately 12 million zlotys. The cost of repairing the damaged railway infrastructure (including the track surface and signal equipment) will amount to around 2 million zlotys. Additionally, the repair of the destroyed rolling stock is expected to cost another 10 million.
As a result of the accident, 210 trains were delayed, accumulating a total of 3,500 minutes of delay, and 30 trains had to take detours. Trains are still operating on a single track, but railway workers estimated that normal service would be restored by Wednesday evening.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, tvnwarszawa.pl
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.