A TGV train traveling from Dunkirk to Paris collided this morning with a heavy goods vehicle carrying an oversized load at a level crossing near Mazingarbe, in the commune of Bully-les-Mines, between Béthune and Lens. The train driver was killed in the collision, while more than 240 passengers and two train crew members were on board.
An impact of extreme violence
The collision occurred at very high speed. According to initial reports from the scene, the train was traveling at approximately 160 km/h at the moment of impact and continued for several hundred meters before coming to a stop. The lead engine derailed, while windows in the first passenger car were cracked by the force of the collision.
The driver did not survive
The tragedy claimed the life of the TGV driver, described as a 56-year-old experienced professional. The number of casualties around him fluctuated for a long time as medical attention was administered. By midday, two people were reported to be in critical condition, but their lives were not in danger, along with about fifteen others who sustained minor injuries.
An oversized convoy at the heart of the investigation
The truck involved in the accident was a private oversized load transporting a mobile military bridge. The driver, a civilian, was taken into custody. A judicial inquiry has been launched to determine precisely how the truck ended up on the tracks as the train was passing. At this stage, authorities indicate that the exact circumstances are still being investigated.
One of the central points of the investigation concerns the operation of the level crossing. Initial findings at the scene indicate that it was functioning normally and that the barriers appeared to have been working correctly. It was also reported that a regional express train (TER) had crossed the same crossing shortly before the tragedy, without any reported incident.
Following the collision, a major rescue operation was launched. Passengers were evacuated by bus to a reception center in Bully-les-Mines for medical checkups and support. Rail service between Béthune and Lens was immediately suspended, with disruptions expected to continue beyond the day of the accident due to the extent of the damage to the track and infrastructure.
