At least six people, including two toddlers, were injured after a truck and train collided at a level crossing in Guildford, eastern Perth, during peak hour on Wednesday. Emergency services responded to the incident on Meadow Street just before 4pm.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with the truck torn in half and debris scattered across the crossing. The train and nearby vehicles, including an SUV, sustained significant damage. The truck's trailer was ripped off, and a bobcat on the trailer ended up on the tracks.
A St John Ambulance spokesperson said there appeared to be no life-threatening injuries. Two male toddlers and a woman in her 30s were treated at the scene. A female teenager and another woman in her 30s were taken to Midland Hospital, while a woman in her 50s was taken to Royal Perth Hospital.
Eyewitness Emma Robson, who was in her SUV with her husband and three young children waiting at the crossing, said the truck 'just went straight through the boom gates.' The train struck the trailer, sending wheels flying into their car. The family was uninjured, with Mr. Robson describing it as feeling 'like a movie.'
The Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union stated that the two train drivers were physically OK and could have done nothing to avoid the collision. Passengers were helped off the train, with one woman reporting that the train shook and dust filled the carriage after impact.
The Midland train line was shut between Bayswater and Midland on Wednesday evening, with replacement buses causing delays on other lines. Services returned to normal by Thursday morning.
