One killed as high-speed TGV train derails after truck crash

The driver of a high-speed train has died in northern France after his train collided with a truck transporting military material.

The train was carrying 243 people, at least a dozen of whom were injured in the crash.

Authorities in the northern French city of Bully-les-Mines say that the driver of a high-speed TGV train was killed early Tuesday morning in a crash involving a loaded semi at a street-level crossing.

A large contingent of emergency services and technical crews were quickly dispatched to the scene.

The truck was said to have been carrying military equipment and authorities have taken its driver into custody.

Officials say the train was headed for Paris at the time of the crash, which occurred around 7:00 a.m.

(0500 GMT), en route from the city of Dunkirk.

Local emergency services reported that two train passengers had been seriously injured and a further 11 had sustained minor injuries.

Second deadly crossing crash in days
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot on Tuesday said that he would travel to the scene where he will be joined by SCNF national rail boss Jean Castex.

SCNF officials say it is too soon to say exactly what happened, adding that rail service along the line had been suspended until later in the day.

Tuesday's crash was the second such incident within days.

On March 25, a truck driver was killed in a collision with a train at a street-level crossing in the southeastern town of Saint Raphael.

France's Train a Grande Vitesse (TGV) trains are known for their safety and have been held in high esteem since the first generation was introduced in 1981.

Officials say the train was traveling at the speed of a normal train when Tuesday's collision took place.

Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher