A trailer was ripped from the back of a vehicle when it was struck by a passenger train travelling at 160 kilometres per hour in Trafalgar on Friday.
According to Warragul Police, the vehicle and trailer became caught by a red light on an Ashby Street rail crossing, when it was struck by the east bound train about 6pm, sending the trailer hurtling towards the highway. While no major injuries were recorded in the incident, chemicals stored on the mowing service trailer prompted the County Fire Authority to take a lead response to what became a hazardous chemical situation. Passengers on the V/Line service were transferred by bus, while traffic was diverted around the scene. The line re-opened about midnight.
“It’s very lucky no one was hurt, but it was still a major situation simply because of the chemicals; the petrol and other chemicals melded together, so it would have been a volatile mix there,” Sergeant Peter Rosenboon said.
