Train Collision Near Carcassonne, Truck Driver Killed At Rural Crossing, Rail Traffic Halted

Carcassonne, France— A regional passenger train slammed into a freight truck at an unguarded rural level crossing outside Carcassonne at 8:47 a.m. Tuesday, killing the truck driver instantly and derailing the front carriage.

The truck, carrying agricultural feed, was crossing the single-track line that links Carcassonne to Limoux when the train approached at around 90 km/h. Witnesses said the truck appeared to hesitate on the tracks, then stalled. The train driver applied emergency brakes but could not stop in time.

The truck cab was crushed and dragged 40 meters. The driver, a man in his 50s from Aude, was pronounced dead at the scene. No passengers on the train were seriously injured, though three were treated for shock and minor bruises. The train driver was hospitalized for observation.

"The barriers were down, lights flashing. The truck entered late. We heard the horn, then the crash," said a farmer who was waiting on the other side of the crossing in his van. He called emergency services.

SNCF suspended traffic on the line for six hours. Rail replacement buses were deployed. Technicians inspected the crossing mechanism, track alignment, and the train’s black box. Initial checks show the signals were functioning.

"We have secured the event recorder and the crossing logs. Visibility was good. The question is why the vehicle was on the tracks when the train was so close," a regional gendarmerie officer said. The officer requested anonymity as the investigation is ongoing.

Level crossing accidents remain a persistent risk in rural France. The national rail safety body recorded 32 fatalities at crossings last year, many involving heavy goods vehicles.

The mayor of the nearby commune arrived at the scene and said residents have long complained about short warning times at that crossing. SNCF said warning times meet national standards but would be reviewed.

Prosecutors have opened a routine inquiry into involuntary homicide and will wait for technical reports before deciding on further action.