DB Cargo employee dies in crash between freight train and truck in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, a 25-year-old employee of DB Cargo was killed in a collision between a freight train and a truck on Wednesday 28 August. Two others were slightly injured in the collision, including the train driver, who the police and infrastructure manager ProRail initially thought was seriously injured.

The accident happened around 13:30 at an unsecured railway crossing on the Zanddijk near the southern village of Hooge Zwaluwe. The freight train was said to have been moving slowly there. According to the police, the fatal victim was “standing on the head of the train”. It is possible that it was a kind of balcony around the locomotive. The man from Zwijndrecht was given CPR, but died from his injuries.

The driver of the truck was not injured in the collision, says a police spokesperson. He has been arrested for involvement in a serious collision, which is a standard procedure for this type of accident. The cause of the accident is being investigated. The Dutch Safety Board and the Labour Inspectorate have also been informed.

The freight train consisted of five wagons. For as far as is known, no hazardous substances were being transported in them. The route in question is used exclusively for freight transport. Train traffic on this route has been halted.

This article was originally published by our sister publication SpoorPro.nl