French train collides with truck carrying military pontoon, train driver killed

A French high-speed train collided with a truck carrying military equipment at a level crossing near Calais on Tuesday, killing the train driver, the local prefecture and railway operators said.

Sixteen people were injured and two of them were in critical condition, the prefecture said. More than 200 passengers were on the train at the time of the crash and the truck was carrying a military pontoon, it said.

The train was travelling from Dunkirk to Paris when the incident occurred at around 7 a.m. near the town of Bully-les-Mines, railway operator SNCF said in a separate statement.

Local prosecutor Etienne Thieffry said the police had started an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter and were holding the civilian truck driver in custody for questioning.

SNCF said traffic had been interrupted on the line and the prefecture said it would remain closed until further notice.

(Reuters)