Posted April 08, 2017 05:37:50

Photo: The damaged nose of a Pendolino fast train that hit a flat-bed truck at an unguarded railway crossing in Schodnia, south-western Poland. (AP Photo)

A fast train has hit a flat-bed truck at an unguarded railway crossing in south-western Poland, sending 19 people to hospital — including seven with life-threatening injuries — officials have said.

A number of other people suffered less severe injuries in the collision.

The accident occurred around 3:00pm local time in the village of Schodnia, when a Pendolino intercity train carrying some 300 passengers hit the vehicle, Pawel Fratczak, the spokesman for national firefighters, told reporters.

The train partially derailed but remained upright. The truck driver was not hurt, Mr Fratczak said.

Regional police spokeswoman Monika Mrugala said seven of those injured were in life-threatening condition.

Some of the injured were airlifted to a hospital, while others were taken by ambulance.

Passengers that were not injured were taken to a nearby restaurant and then put on buses provided by Poland's state railway, PKP, to continue their journey.

Photo: The damaged flat-bed truck after being hit by a Pendolino fast train at an unguarded railway crossing in Schodnia, south-western Poland. Several people have been hospitalised with life-threatening injuries. (AP: Poland Out)

Ms Mrugala said the truck was transporting another truck on its trailer when it was hit at the crossing, which had no barriers, only warning lights.

The truck was badly damaged and its make could not be immediately determined, she said.

Police were investigating the cause of the accident, she said.

The railway tracks needed repair and traffic there would probably not be restored before Thursday, PKP spokesman Cezary Nowak said.

Italian-made Pendolino trains operating in Poland have a top speed of 140 kilometres per hour.

AP

Topics: accidents---other, poland, european-union