On Wednesday, July 13, 2022, authorities responded to a passenger train that derailed after colliding with a truck close to Bendigo. Reports stated that the accident occurred in the morning at Goornong, near Bendigo, about two hours northwest of Melbourne.
The crash on Wednesday happened in Goornong, northeast of Bendigo, close to the Midland Highway. Just after 8 am, emergency personnel were summoned to a train-related incident in Southern Cross. None of the 37 passengers on the train were hurt, according to Inspector Brett Sampson. According to reports, the truck driver, a man in his 50s, was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital after suffering upper-body injuries.
As of Wednesday night, he remains there in a bad condition. The 40-year-old train driver was brought to Bendigo Health for observation. Paramedics evaluated a number of patients who didn’t need to be admitted. The derailed train was still standing when it was discovered, and a vehicle and trailer were visible in the rail path.
It’s unclear if the truck driver, who according to his employer had a solid driving record and experience, was starting or finishing his shift at the time of the crash. Following the crash, V/Line halted all services between Bendigo and Echuca and transferred passengers to replacement coaches headed for Melbourne.
According to Sampson, the vehicle was moving west when it entered a rail crossing and struck the train. He claimed that because the event was not more serious, authorities were “very relieved.” He also added that “You always hope for the best when you’re on [and] when you’re heading to these collisions.”
Police stated that the precise circumstances of the crash were unknown but that an inquiry had already started. The event will be investigated by the National Rail Safety Regulator as well. While investigators examine the crash scene, the track connecting the two destinations is anticipated to be shut down for a few days. The rest of the scheduled services leaving Bendigo have resumed.
V/Line CEO Matt Carrick praised the Echuca-line riders for their understanding and stated that the company had provided the driver and conductor with support following the “very traumatic” occurrence.
