Five dead after pick-up truck driver ignores red light and hits train

The accident occurred early in the morning in Mindszent, a village in Southern Hungary. A pick-up lorry with seven people on board drove past the flashing lights of the railroad crossing and crashed into the oncoming train.

The collision was so severe that the train derailed, drifted 100 metres from the railway crossing and plunged into the deep ditch next to the rails. The train stood almost perpendicular to the rails.

The driver and four passengers died on the spot, another two passengers were seriously injured.

Local railway operator Mávinform reported there were about 22 passengers on the train, two of whom were seriously injured. Eight people suffered minor injuries.

Both the police and the railway operator confirmed that the light barrier was operating at the time of the accident. The pick-up was driving in front of the train despite the red lights.