A serious railway accident in Binh Dinh, where a truck collided with a train, has led to the prosecution of a level crossing keeper for negligence. This tragic incident not only caused casualties and property damage but also raised questions about safety procedures at railway crossings.
On April 11th, Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Trieu, Deputy Head of Van Canh District Police (Binh Dinh), announced that the investigative police agency had initiated legal proceedings and prosecuted Dinh Van Hoa (49 years old). Mr. Hoa, a level crossing keeper under the Van Canh Railway Team, Phu Khanh Railway Joint Stock Company, is accused of violating regulations on railway vehicle operation under Article 208 of the Penal Code. A travel ban has been imposed on Mr. Hoa.
According to the initial investigation results, the accident occurred at a legal level crossing in An Long 2 village, Canh Vinh commune, Van Canh district. Around 9 am on March 18th, upon receiving a signal from Tan Vinh station’s duty officer about train SQN4 requesting passage, Mr. Hoa failed to fully implement safety procedures.
Specifically, Mr. Hoa opened the railway for the train to pass but failed to close the level crossing barriers and activate the warning lights. More seriously, he did not use a yellow flag to signal the train’s arrival and departure, leading to the truck crossing the tracks as the train approached. Consequently, a horrific collision between the truck and the train occurred, resulting in the deaths of two people in the truck and the paralysis of the North-South railway line for several hours.
At the time of the accident, passenger train SQN4 was traveling from Saigon to Quy Nhon. Upon reaching km 1104+640, passing through An Long 2 village, Canh Vinh commune, Van Canh district, the train directly collided with the truck. The strong impact caused the train to push the truck for another 300 meters, and the locomotive derailed before coming to a stop.
The catastrophic accident claimed the lives of truck driver Tang Xuan Minh (56 years old) and assistant driver Tran Bon. Mr. Minh died at the scene, while Mr. Bon passed away at Binh Dinh Provincial General Hospital. This heartbreaking incident serves as a profound reminder of the importance of strictly adhering to railway traffic safety regulations, especially the responsibility of level crossing keepers at railway crossings.
