QLD: Woman driver barely hurt in Cairns level crossing smash

AAP General News (Australia)
02-18-2009
QLD: Woman driver barely hurt in Cairns level crossing smash

BRISBANE, Feb 18 AAP - A woman has escaped with only minor injuries after her car collided
with a train at a level crossing on the southern outskirts of Cairns.

Police said the woman's car appeared to have been dragged for several hundred metres
before the train came to a stop.

The level crossing at the intersection of Coombes Street and the Pacific Highway, White
Rock, had flashing lights and warning signs, though no boom gates, a spokeswoman for Queensland
Rail told AAP.

Anecdotal evidence indicated the lights were functioning when the crash occurred at
7.35pm (AEST) on Tuesday, police said.

The 33-year-old woman driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to Cairns Base Hospital,
but no one on the train was reported to be hurt.

This was the latest in a spate of level crossing smashes in the region.

On New Year's Day, a truck driver was killed when his garbage truck was hit by a train
on a level crossing at Mundoo, near Innisfail.

Two tilt train drivers died at Cardwell, 100km south of Innisfail, in November.

Queensland Transport Minister John Mickel has said 50 per cent of level crossing collisions
occurred at crossings with boom gates or flashing lights.

AAP stg/jl

KEYWORD: CROSSING

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