Level Crossing Collision, Back Creek, New South Wales, on 10 March 2007

Executive summary

At approximately 1830 on Saturday 10 March 2007, a semi-trailer partially loaded with hay bales drove into the path of empty grain train 3835 at the Tallabung to Back Creek Road level crossing, NSW. The semi-trailer driver was fatally injured in the collision.

The train derailed and, with the crushed semi-trailer underneath the leading locomotive, travelled 144 m further onto and over the timber and concrete rail bridge over the Back Creek watercourse. The leading locomotive came to a rest off the track on the embankment past the bridge; the other two locomotives came to rest on the bridge.

The wreckage caught fire following the collision, ultimately destroying all three locomotives, the bridge superstructure and the semi-trailer. The train crew, although injured, were able to exit the leading locomotive and escape from the fire.

The investigation found that the semi-trailer driver drove into the path of the train without stopping at the level crossing's 'Stop' sign. On the evidence