Four people were taken to hospital with minor injuries after a freight train collided with a truck at a rail crossing near the NT town of Katherine yesterday.
A crime scene has now been established, with detectives from the Katherine Criminal Investigation Branch conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
“It is incredibly lucky no one was seriously injured in this collision,” said Deputy Chief Fire Officer Joshua Fischer.
Director of St John Ambulance NT, Andrew Thomas, said all four patients were in a stable condition, “with some minor head wounds and some limb injuries”.
“One [other] person [the truck driver] was seen at the scene and treated, but didn’t want to go to hospital,” he said.
The train was transporting a general freight and diesel container which resulted in a fire post-crash. The Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service, with assistance from the Royal Australian Air Force and Bushfires NT, successfully contained the fire.
According to an ABC News report, the heavy vehicle involved was a side tipper truck, and NT Health added that the four men involved, aged 32, 38, 47 and 49 were being treated at Katherine Hospital.
Aurizon, the owner of the rail line between Adelaide and Darwin, confirmed in a statement that a truck had collided with one of their freight trains at a level crossing shortly before 11am on Wednesday, June 14.
“The four Aurizon traincrew have been transported to hospital and are in a stable condition,” a company spokesperson said.
Anyone who witnessed the crash, or who has footage of the events preceding and in the aftermath, is urged to contact police on 131 444.