Vic train crash kills six, dozens hurt
Six people were killed and about 50 injured when a passenger train bound for Melbourne collided with a truck at a level crossing in Victoria's north-west.
The accident happened about 1.40pm (AEST) approximately six kilometres north of Kerang, on the Murray Valley Highway, Victoria Police said.
A police spokeswoman said six people were confirmed dead.
"There are 12 with serious injuries and we've got around 40 people who are wounded," the spokeswoman said.
"The truck driver of the semi-trailer has been taken to the Mildura hospital in a serious condition," she said.
It is believed the V/Line passenger train left Swan Hill at 1pm (AEST) and was due to arrive at Southern Cross station in Melbourne at 5.09pm.
The accident happened about 40 minutes into the journey.
A Rural Ambulance spokeswoman said six ambulances had been called to the scene of the accident.
Helicopters and fixed wing aircraft have flown to Kerang to airlift the most badly injured to Melbourne.
"There are some very seriously injured," Kerang District Hospital chief Robert Jarman told Sky News.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) and State Emergency Service (SES) also sent crews to the accident site.
Edmund Carew, a spokesman for Victoria's shadow transport minister Terry Mulder, said the crossing had flashing lights but no boom gates.
It is unknown at this stage if the lights were working when the accident happened.
Police said they had no further details at this stage.
On Tuesday afternoon, V/Line issued a statement confirming the passenger train left Swan Hill at 1pm (AEST) and was bound for Melbourne.
"We can confirm that there was an accident between a truck and a V/Line train at a level crossing near Kerang," the statement from V/Line said.
What a terrible, terrible tragedy.
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