The crane operator was taken to hospital seriously injured. No passengers were injured.
The accident happened shortly after 7:30 a.m. in Melsele, a district of Beveren-Waas. "The passenger train involved was travelling from Poperinge to Zwijndrecht and, at a level crossing in Melsele, hit the railway construction crane. It was being used at that moment on the adjacent track," report NMBS and Infrabel. The crane was used by Infrabel for railway works on the line between Antwerp and Ghent.
One worker, who was working as a subcontractor for Infrabel, was seriously injured, but his life is not in danger.
Police and the public prosecutor came to the scene to investigate. "The investigation will have to find out what exactly happened. The staff are in any case deeply affected by the accident," says Infrabel spokesperson Frédéric Petit.
Source: De redactie.be