Truck driver and passenger escape with their lives when train smashes into them

Truck driver and passenger escape with their lives when train smashes into them after they ignore level crossing barriers and go onto the track

  • Truck driver and passenger narrowly avoid death after being hit by freight train 
  • He drove onto tracks in Uttaradit, Thailand, as the locomotive approached
  • In the gamble on Wednesday the driver ignored the level crossing barriers 

A truck driver and his passenger have escaped with their lives after a freight train smashed into their vehicle and pushed it along the tracks.

The pair had ignored a closed level crossing in Uttaradit, northern Thailand, where a motorcyclist was patiently waiting and had driven straight onto the line.

Emerging unscathed, they were treated for minor injuries and shock at a nearby hospital. 

Pictured: The locomotive slams into the truck as it drives over the railway lines when the barriers are down

A truck driver and his passenger narrowly escaped with their lives after their vehicle was struck by a freight train when it tried to cross a level crossing

Shocking CCTV footage showed the truck being flung to the side before getting caught on the locomotive and was then pushed along the side of the tracks

Shocking CCTV footage showed the truck being flung to the side before getting caught on the locomotive and was then pushed along the side of the tracks

Shocking CCTV footage shows the motorcyclist waiting at the level crossing, which had a barrier down, before the truck arrives.

It drives straight past and onto the railway line, straight into the path of a six-truck freight train. 

The locomotive slams into the truck and flings it to the side before pushing it along. 

In the seconds after the strike, the motorcyclist can be seen rushing

 over to help alongside other witnesses.

Government officials warned other road users to be cautious and always check the warning lights and sounds when they approach level crossings.

The Uttaradit Municipality Disaster Prevention and Mitigation department said: ’Be careful when driving on the road, especially at the railway crossings. Observe all of the warnings well.

’Follow the rules and your property and your life will not be in danger.’

After the crash in Uttaradit, northern Thailand, people were filmed rushing to their aid

After the crash in Uttaradit, northern Thailand, people were filmed rushing to their aid

A motorcyclist waits at the level crossing as the barriers have come down. He was ignored by the truck driver who headed straight onto the tracks

A motorcyclist waits at the level crossing as the barriers have come down. He was ignored by the truck driver who headed straight onto the tracks

The crash happened after 5pm local time on Wednesday this week.

It follows Irish Rail’s decision to issue a warning at the beginning of this month after CCTV caught a rubbish truck, car and two joggers dashing across railway lines despite level crossing barriers being closed. 

The transport company said it had seen an 82 per cent rise in the number of hits on its crossings this year, compared to the year before. 

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