Warning lights were flashing and alarm bells were ringing before a truck collided with a freight train killing two train drivers, a new report has revealed. Pacific National train drivers Kevin Baker and Mick Warren died when their train collided with a truck at a remote rail crossing near Bindarrah on the South Australian-NSW border on the morning of December 31, 2023. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau, in its preliminary report into the deadly smash released on Wednesday, noted the crossing did not have boom gates but its active warning systems, made up of lights and bells, had been activated.
“The truck, configured as an A-double road-train, departed Yunta, South Australia, to travel along the Barrier Highway in the direction of Broken Hill, New South Wales, shortly after 9am,” the report states. Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion. “A short time later, following a crew change, a Pacific National freight train left Broken Hill, travelling in the direction of Yunta.
“At approximately 10.15am the truck, travelling at about 90 km/h, entered the Barrier Highway level crossing near Cutana, South Australia, into the path of the train. “The crossing did not have boom gates, but had active warning systems (lights and bells), which had activated.
“The train, travelling at about 84 km/h, collided with the trailers of the truck, resulting in the derailment of both locomotives and six multi-platform freight wagons.” T.
