A TGV crashed into a lorry at a level crossing in Bully-les-Mines, Pas-de-Calais, yesterday morning, resulting in the death of the train driver and leaving fifteen others injured, two of them in serious condition.
The train, operating the Dunkirk–Paris route, struck a heavy goods vehicle carrying military equipment shortly before 7:00 a.m. According to the prefecture, the crash occurred at level crossing number 96 on Rue Lamartine, between Béthune and Lens. Due to momentum, the train continued for several hundred metres before coming to a halt. The initial toll of 27 injured was later revised to two seriously hurt and 13 with minor injuries.
However, the train driver, Claudio D., aged 56, died as a result of the impact. A resident of Quimper, he was close to retirement after a lifelong career with SNCF.
France’s Minister of Transport, Philippe Tabarot, and the company’s Chairman and CEO, Jean Castex, travelled to the scene, where it was confirmed that the level crossing was in perfect working order and that the barriers had been correctly activated.
Lorry driver under investigation for manslaughter
The lorry’s driver, a civilian transporting a mobile bridge belonging to the French Army, was detained and taken into police custody. The Béthune public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation for aggravated involuntary manslaughter and negligent injury. The BEA-TT, the agency responsible for investigating land transport accidents in France, has also been called in to clarify the exact circumstances of the crash.
Rail services were suspended between Béthune and Lens, affecting also the Lille–Béthune, Lille–Lens, and Lille–Douai corridors. The accident once again highlights safety concerns at level crossings — infrastructure that continues to account for a significant share of incidents between rail and road traffic in France.
From these lines, we extend our condolences to the family, colleagues, and friends of Claudio D.