A 21-year-old woman was killed when a freight train struck her motorcycle at a railway crossing behind a school in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang district late Saturday night.
Local residents told police that the accident may have been caused by poor visibility in the area, particularly at night.
Police from Chorakhe Noi station said they received reports late Saturday night of a fatal collision involving a motorcycle and a train.
Officers and rescue workers arriving at the scene found the body of ‘Busakorn’ beside the railway tracks. Nearby was her heavily damaged motorcycle.
Initial investigations found that the victim had been attempting to cross the railway tracks when freight train No. 4403, travelling towards Bang Sue station, struck the motorcycle, killing her instantly.
Police are coordinating with the State Railway of Thailand to inspect CCTV footage and gather evidence to determine the exact cause of the tragedy.
Local residents told police that the crossing where the accident occurred is particularly dangerous because it is situated on a curve, with grass obstructing visibility.
They said motorists who attempt to cross the tracks without slowing down can easily become involved in serious accidents. They added that near misses occur frequently at the crossing.
In a separate incident in Nakhon Nayok province, villagers and rescue workers narrowly prevented another railway accident after a cement truck became stuck on railway tracks at a crossing in Pak Phli district.
The truck, carrying more than 40 tonnes of cement, became stuck on the tracks after the driver attempted to cross an uneven railway crossing unsuitable for large vehicles. Villagers initially tried to pull the truck free using a tractor, but failed because of its weight. An excavator was later brought in to assist.
Meanwhile, a diesel train travelling from Bangkok to Kabin Buri station was approaching the area, prompting villagers and rescue workers to wave clothes and flags to signal the train to stop immediately.
The truck was eventually removed from the tracks.
The driver of the cement truck said he was using the route for the first time after collecting cement from a factory in Prachin Buri province, for delivery to Saraburi, and was unaware that the crossing could not accommodate large trucks.
Witnesses said they had attempted to warn the driver, but the truck had already become stuck on the tracks. They added that similar incidents involving large vehicles occur at the crossing almost every year.
Railway officials later inspected the site and said crossing barriers had recently been installed there but had not yet officially entered service.
The incident also caused damage to railway property. The route was reopened after more than an hour of inspections.
