A 27-year-old motorist died on Sunday in the collision of his car with a TER at a protected level crossing near Schweighouse-sur-Moder (Bas-Rhin), we have learned from concordant sources, confirming an information Latest News from Alsace.
The accident occurred around 11:25 am when a train, connecting Strasbourg to Niederbronn-les-Bains with 27 passengers on board, struck "a car (which) was on the level crossing", indicated the SNCF.
"The circumstances of the presence of the vehicle on the axis of the train are to be determined," said the deputy commander of the Haguenau gendarmerie company, responsible for the investigation. "In the current state of the investigations, the barriers (of the level crossing) were lowered," he added.
Train driver supported psychologically
The train traveling at “85-90 km / h”, the shock was very violent, despite the braking engaged by the driver of the TER and “the car was dragged on almost 150 to 200 meters”, according to the gendarmerie.
The driver of the car died instantly, announced the SNCF and the gendarmerie. The driver of the TER was not injured, "he is being taken care of psychologically", said the SNCF. The 27 passengers on the train were unharmed and were taken to their destination by taxis and buses chartered by the SNCF.
“There are a hundred accidents like this every year. And each year a hundred dead or people mutilated for life. The SNCF must put an end to this carnage and find solutions to reinvent the safety of level crossings ”, called in a press release Me Jehanne Collard. This lawyer specializing in road accident cases is the counsel of the parents of two college students who died in December 2017 in the collision between a coach and a train in Millas (Pyrénées-Orientales).