UDON THANI: A train driver and engineer were killed during a collision with an 18-wheel trailer truck at a railway crossing in Muang district of this northeastern province on Monday night, police said.
The accident occurred at the crossing near Ban Chan intersection. Rapid train No 134 (Nong Khai-Bangkok) hit the truck at about 7.45pm, Pol Capt Narasak Nonthabut, a Muang duty officer, said.
The violent impact derailed the locomotive, which sustained heavy damage. The truck's tractor was not damaged but the train hit the trailer, which was torn free from its coupling and hurled into a canal beside the tracks.
Wuthichai Ruang-aram, the train driver, and Jennarong Chuenchoy, the engineer, were thrown out of the cabin and into the canal by the impact.
There were about 100 passengers in the train's nine carriages. Some suffered minor injuries.
Truck driver Surachai Wongsuk, 58, said he was taking a load of cassava chips from Bung Kan province to Prachin Buri.
He said he drove over the crossing because the safety barrier was not down. The truck was halfway across when he heard a train's warning klaxon and then felt the huge impact as it crashed into the trailer and tore it from the truck's mounting.
Mr Surachai said if the safety barrier was down, he would have stopped.
Police were investigating who was to blame, and whether a railway employee had failed to lower the barrier.
Train services were interrupted by the collision. Many sleepers were found to have been broken and bolts fastening the track pulled free. The train was later moved off the track and a repair crew set to work. Repairs were finished at about 1.45am.