SKY NEWS



 

A truck driver has died after being pulled from the wreckage of the crash in Japan, while dozens more have been injured.

The driver, a man in his 60s, was pulled from the wreckage and taken to hospital in a serious condition, where he later died.

One woman is said to have been seriously hurt, while at least 30 more were less seriously injured, fire officials said. The crash happened in Japan's second largest city of Yokohama. Pictures taken at the scene show flames billowing from the mangled truck, which was loaded with boxes of citrus fruit, and several derailed carriages of the train.

The boxes aboard the truck were crushed, with oranges and lemons strewn around the scene.

According to train company Keikyu Corp, the driver braked sharply as he saw the truck reach the crossing at just before midday on Thursday, but was unable to stop in time. One passenger on board the train told the NHK news organisation that the sound of the glass breaking upon impact was "incredible".
They added: "By the time I knew what had happened, the carriage was all smashed up."

Another passenger who said he hurt his neck in the crash recalled the train stopping abruptly after hearing a honking, before seeing the flames from the truck. Japanese police and transport authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

The incident took place on a railway crossing close to a station used by more than 19,000 people a day, according to the train operator.
It halted services on the busy rail link used by commuters travelling to and from Tokyo, and it is not yet known when journeys will resume.