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French High-Speed Train Driver Killed in Collision with Military Truck in Northern France
A high-speed train driver died and 16 people were injured when the train collided with a truck at a railway crossing in Bully-les-Mines, northern France. The incident occurred on a route from Dunkirk to Paris. Authorities have detained the truck driver and opened an investigation into aggravated manslaughter.
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Bully-les-Mines, France -- A high-speed train driver was killed and 16 people were injured in a collision between the train and a truck at a railway crossing in northern France on Tuesday. The crash took place in the town of Bully-les-Mines on a route connecting Dunkirk to Paris. Local authorities reported the details in a statement.
The truck was carrying military equipment at the time of the incident. Rescue crews responded to the scene after the collision. More than 200 passengers on the train were evacuated. Two of the injured passengers sustained serious injuries, according to the regional administration.
The locomotive's facade was severely damaged, and the truck also suffered extensive damage, as observed by an Associated Press journalist at the site. The train remained on the tracks following the crash.
The truck driver was detained by authorities.
An investigation into aggravated manslaughter has been opened. Prosecutor Etienne Thieffry stated to reporters that it is too early to determine the exact cause of the crash. The head of the national railway authority SNCF, Jean Castex, reported that the railroad crossing gates were functioning correctly.
The railway line was closed while emergency teams conducted operations at the area. No further details on the timeline for reopening the line were provided.
train routes in France, such as the one from Dunkirk to Paris, serve thousands of passengers daily and are critical for regional connectivity.
Railway crossings in northern France handle both freight and passenger traffic, including military transports. This incident affects commuters, rail operators, and local emergency services, with potential disruptions to travel between northern regions and the capital. Authorities have not released additional information on the status of the injured or the evacuated passengers.
