source : the age
An elderly man has been taken to hospital after his car was hit by a passenger train when he drove through boom gates at a level crossing near Brunswick station.
“It is understood a silver Mercedes drove through barriers onto the train tracks and while stationary, the front of the car was struck by a train at the railway station, about 11.50am,” a police spokesperson said.
“The driver of the Mercedes, an 85-year-old man, was conveyed to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.”
Pictures from the scene near the busy station show the Mercedes with a crumpled bonnet. Fencing around the pedestrian crossing was also damaged.
The driver was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital after being assessed by paramedics at the scene.
Buses are replacing trains on the Upfield line between North Melbourne and Coburg following the crash. Delays are expected.
“We ask motorists to avoid the area where possible, using Melville Road or Nicholson Street to avoid congestion,” the Transport Department told commuters in a traffic alert.
“Services will resume and the road will reopen only when investigations and repairs are complete.”
The incident occurred at a level crossing the state government has pledged to remove because it is hazardous and chokes traffic during the morning commute. The government said last month that the level crossing would be demolished by 2030.
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Angus Delaney is a reporter at The Age. Email him at angus.delaney@theage.com.au or contact him securely on Signal at angusdelaney.31Connect via email.
