One killed as train and truck collide
RAW VISION: One person is dead and others injured after a train and a truck collided in Melbourne's south-east.
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A preliminary safety investigation into a fatal truck and train crash in Melbourne's south-east has found no faults with the rail network.
Three investigations are under way into the level-crossing collision that killed one man and sent 13 others to hospital on Saturday.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fatal crash was not the fault of the rail network. Photo: Shannon Morris
Police say a prime mover smashed through boom gates and into the path of a six-carriage Metro service at the Abbotts Road crossing in Dandenong South at 11.42am.
Transport Safety Victoria director Alan Osborne says preliminary results from the crash scene reveal that nothing was wrong with the train, the rail or the level crossing warnings before the crash.
"There's nothing at this stage that is leaping out at us saying there was a problem with the infrastructure," he told AAP on Sunday.
"Certainly from witness accounts we know the lights were working, the bells were working and the boom gates were down, but we'll need to check the computer systems just to confirm that it was a proper and smooth operation."
He said authorities will likely have a more definitive result by the end of the week after examining train and track data on speed, signalling logs, maintenance records as well as possible distractions like sun glare or obstructions.
Police have already interviewed and released the 69-year-old truck driver after seizing his phone and taking a blood sample.
A police spokeswoman said on Sunday no charges had been laid and the investigation continues.
Debris was still being cleaned up at the site in the city's south on Sunday morning with three train stations temporarily taken out of service between Cranbourne and Dandenong for the rest of the week.
But train network operator Metro said it wasn't expecting any major disruptions on the rest of the train network despite the Spring Racing Carnival.
A Metro spokesman said any impact would be minimal.
Killed in the crash was a 43-year-old Cranbourne West man, who was found trapped under rubble in the front carriage.
Police have yet to release his name.
The 30-year-old train driver was trapped in his crumpled cabin for an hour before paramedics could take him to hospital. He suffered lower body injuries while the injured passengers had mainly cuts and bruises.
In addition to the police case and the safety report by Transport Safety Victoria, a third investigation into the crash will be undertaken by the Office of the Chief Investigator to probe any potential systemic issues.
It is the second fatal crash at the intersection in four years, but safety authorities don't believe there is a major issue with the level crossing itself.
Driver behaviour around level crossings earlier this year prompted Transport Safety Victoria to issue a warning after seeing a big jump in near misses as motorists drove around boom gates.
"Level crossings are extremely safe if they are properly used, but some people take incredible risks just to save a little bit of time," Mr Osborne said.
AAP
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