A quiet Monday morning in the Perth suburb of Bentley turned to chaos when a dramatic single-vehicle crash left a man fighting for life and came terrifyingly close to causing a train disaster.
The incident unfolded around 9:45 AM on Wellington Street near the intersection with St Georges Terrace, where a car veered off the road and collided with a power pole in a violent impact that left the vehicle severely damaged.
Moments From Disaster
What makes this incident particularly chilling is the proximity to the active train line. The crashed vehicle came to rest just metres from the railway tracks, with debris scattering across the area.
Emergency services arrived to find a scene of devastation. The male driver, believed to be in his 30s, was trapped in the wreckage and required extensive efforts from firefighters to free him.
Race Against Time
The situation became even more critical when authorities realized a train was scheduled to pass through the area imminently. Police and emergency crews worked frantically to secure the scene and assess the stability of the damaged power pole near the tracks.
In a heart-stopping moment, the next train service passed through the area just minutes after the crash occurred. Had the timing been slightly different, or had the vehicle struck the pole at a different angle, the consequences could have been catastrophic.
Emergency Response
The injured driver was transported to Royal Perth Hospital in a serious condition, suffering from multiple injuries. Medical teams worked to stabilise him during the transport.
Wellington Street was completely closed in both directions between St Georges Terrace and Hunter Street as crash investigators began their work. The closure caused significant traffic disruptions throughout the morning commute.
Community Shaken
Local residents and business owners expressed shock at the severity of the crash and the narrow escape from what could have been a much larger tragedy.
"It's terrifying to think how close this came to being so much worse," one nearby worker commented. "That train passes through here constantly throughout the day."
Police are appealing for any witnesses to the crash to come forward as they work to determine what caused the driver to leave the road and strike the power pole.
