THIS is the shocking moment a passenger train ploughs into a truck and obliterates it after the driver allegedly ignored a level crossing signal.
Footage shows the terrifying near-fatal crash between a 300- person passenger train and the orange lorry in Gdansk, Poland.
The large truck was caught between barriers on a level crossing after the driver reportedly ignored level- crossing signals to wait on the road.
The driver attempts to move forwards and backwards to get off the tracks in time but fails.
Pedestrians near the crossing can be seen rushing to safety before the terrifying collision.
Upon impact, debris from the truck is immediately thrown across the rail line with huge clouds of smoke filling the air.
The fire service said it was alerted to the collision at about 12.30pm on September 3.
The Polish State Railways (PKP) Intercity train stopped near Gdansk Lipce station.
Paramedics examined four people at the scene – the truck driver, train conductor, and two passengers.
The driver was later taken to hospital for treatment.
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On board were 300 people travelling from Gdynia in the north to Zielona Góra in the west of Poland.
After narrowly avoiding a deadly disaster, passengers self-evacuated the train.
The fire service said: “Due to the traffic incident, the traffic in the area of the accident was stopped [and] passengers are being transported by buses to Tczew.”
Drone footage released after the crash shows the obliterated truck and damaged train, with debris scattered all over the scene.
The cabin of the HGV remained intact, but video shows the cargo smashed to bits and folded by the impact of the train.
Polish Railway Lines SA released CCTV of the crash as a reminder to motorists that they should never wait on the train tracks.
They said: “Break through the barrier and immediately leave the crossing.”
It comes after a passenger train in Poland crashed through a tractor trailer after the driver stopped on the tracks.
Officials allege that the driver of the tractor was drunk when the collision occurred in Czarlin on August 3.
In a statement, PKP said: “One irresponsible driver endangered the lives of 500 passengers, train crew, and other road users, and also caused disruptions to hundreds of travellers.
“Crossing the railway is not a place for bravado. Stop, look around.”
They issued a reminder to the public that “on every crossing, the train always has the right of way”.
PKP noted that the braking distance for a train can be up to half a mile, which means that even if a driver notices a hazard they may not be able to stop the train in time.
