Hectorspruit level crossing accident
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| Hectorspruit level crossing accident | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Details | |
| Date | 13 July 2012 07:00 |
| Location | Hectorspruit, Mpumalanga |
| Country | South Africa |
| Operator | Transnet |
| Incident type | Level crossing accident |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Deaths | 25 or 26 |
The Hectorspruit level crossing accident occurred at approximately 7 a.m. on 13 July 2012, when a Witbank to Maputo coal train collided with a truck on a controlled level crossing near Hectorspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa.[1]
The truck was carrying 44 seasonal farm workers[1] engaged mainly in picking citrus crops in the region.[2] There were 25[2][3] or 26[1] fatalities among the truck's occupants, and several others were injured.[3] Immediately after the collision, the truck was dragged by the train for about 200 metres (660 ft); bodies were left scattered on the ground, with limbs missing.[3]
On the same day, the Minister for Public Enterprises, Malusi Gigaba, and Transnet officials visited the collision scene, on the line between Malelane and Hectorspruit. They were satisfied that all level crossing safety measures were in place at the time of the crash. According to one official, the train driver "even hooted to let the [truck] driver know that he was approaching".[1]
