CHACHOENGSAO - A Cambodian woman was killed and a fellow worker injured when a pickup truck they were travelling in was hit by a train hauling containers at a temporary railway crossing in Ban Pho district on Wednesday night.
The fatal crash occurred near the site of a bridge being built across the tracks, not far from Don Sinon railway station in tambon Nong Bua, said Pol Capt Charin Chareerak, deputy chief investigator at Ban Pho. It was reported at 9.30pm.
The Toyota Vigo pickup was found smashed into the crossing barrier when police and rescue workers arrived.
The body of an unidentified Cambodian woman was trapped inside. A Cambodian man, identified later as Neud Sroy, 39, had been injured and was rushed to a nearby hospital.
The train, which was hauling at least 40 containers, was stopped on the track. The locomotive was slightly damaged.
Eyewitness Kriangkrai Luengcharoenporn, 43, whose grocery shop is opposite the scene, told police when the pickup arrived at the railway crossing the barriers were already down. Instead of waiting for the train to arrive and pass, the driver opted to use an adjoining temporary crossing, which had no barriers.
As the pickup attempted to cross the track the train ran into it, said Mr Kriangkrai.
The pickup driver managed to get out just before the train hit, leaving the two Cambodian workers inside.
The witness said the unguarded crossing was a detour made by the bridge contractor when the manned crossing was closed by construction work. Once the bridge beams were in place the main crossing was re-opened. However, the contractor had not put up barriers at the alternative crossing.
Police were investigating.
The pickup truck is hit by the train at the temporary crossing with no barriers in Chachoengsao province on Wednesday night as the driver did not want to wait at the nearby crossing barrier. (Photo by Sonthanaporn Inchan)