Passengers run to safety as freight train hits ute
A TEENAGER could face charges after his ute got stuck on railway tracks and was hit by a freight train last night.
A Queensland Rail staffer called 000 just after 8.30pm after the train hit the Toyota LandCruiser, which had become stuck on the tracks about 500m north of the Greenvale St level crossing at Yabulu.
Two fire trucks and police cars responded.
District Duty Officer Senior Sergeant Kylee Haydon said five the ute driver, believed to be a 17- year- old man, was illegally travelling on QR land and had attempted to go around a fence before becoming stuck.
She said the man and an unknown number of passengers had tried unsuccessfully to dislodge the vehicle before trying to alert the driver of the oncoming train.
“The driver of the train has backed the speed off significantly, however it has collided with the four wheel drive,” she said. “The driver of the vehicle should not have been on QR land at the time and his vehicle would not have been in that situation.
“It’s very lucky they haven’t become trapped in the vehicle themselves.
“The vehicle is obviously in a very bad way. I would suggest it’ll be written off.”
Sen- Sgt Haydon said it was possible the driver could be charged with trespassing.
RACHEL RILEY