About 140 people were injured in southern Russia on Monday (29/7) after a train carrying 800 passengers hit a truck at a level crossing, causing eight carriages to derail, Russian Railways said.
The train driver braked suddenly when he saw the Kamaz truck entering the crossing despite the alarm, due to a violation of traffic rules by the truck driver, Russian Railways said. The ill-fated train was traveling from Kazan in Tatarstan to Adler on the Black Sea.
The train hit the truck at a speed of about 65 kilometers per hour near Kotelnikovo station, located in the southern Volgograd region, about 1,200 km south of Moscow.
“About 140 people received injuries and bruises,” Russian Railways said, adding that 15 people, including three children, were taken to hospital for treatment.
The Kamaz driver, who was thrown about 15 meters (50 feet) from the impact, is in critical condition, the Telegram channel Mash said. Video published by the channel showed the badly damaged remains of the truck's cabin and a man believed to be the driver with a bloodied face.
Mash previously reported that two people were killed in the collision, but that information has not been confirmed by Russian officials.
Video released by the state news agency TASS shows derailed carriages, some of which appear damaged.
Russia's Emergencies Ministry said firefighters and rescuers were working to evacuate passengers. Nine carriages were reported to have derailed. (ah/es)
