Freight train hits truck at a railway crossing near Shumen

A freight train composition collided with a heavy-duty truck at a railway crossing near the Shumen village of Zlatna Niva. There were no injuries in the incident, but serious material damage was caused to the locomotive and the truck's semi-trailer, reported the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior – Shumen.

The report of the accident was received shortly before 10:00 AM on Monday. Police and fire department teams were immediately dispatched to the scene, secured the area, and began an inspection of the crash site.

How the accident happened

According to preliminary data, the crash occurred at an internal railway crossing in an aggregate extraction quarry near Zlatna Niva. The train composition, consisting of two locomotives and 20 wagons, struck a truck with a semi-trailer that was crossing the tracks.

The impact was on the side, with the locomotive pushing the semi-trailer and damaging the front of the truck. As a result, traffic through the internal crossing was temporarily stopped while experts conducted an inspection and assessed how to clear the train and the vehicle.

No injuries, alcohol tests are negative

There were no injuries in the collision – neither among the engineers nor the truck driver. All three – two engineers aged 47 and 57, and the 61-year-old driver of the heavy-duty vehicle – were tested for alcohol use, and their results were negative.

Despite the lack of injuries, the damage to the locomotive and the semi-trailer is considered significant. Rail transport and quarry operations were temporarily hindered while the necessary inspections and securing procedures were carried out.

Actions of the fire department and investigation

Teams from the Regional Department for "Fire Safety and Population Protection" in Shumen and Novi Pazar worked to secure the area. The firefighters secured the truck by disconnecting its batteries to prevent the risk of a fire.

An on-site inspection was carried out, and pre-trial proceedings have been initiated regarding the case. The investigation will determine whether it was a case of human error, a technical issue, or a violation of railway crossing safety rules, with the results expected to determine any potential liability.