A 56-year-old train driver died Tuesday morning when his high-speed passenger service collided with a lorry carrying military equipment at a level crossing in northern France, according to officials from SNCF, France's state-owned rail operator. The train was traveling at an estimated 160 kilometers per hour (99mph) between Béthune and Lens in the Pas-de-Calais region when the collision occurred shortly before 7:00 AM local time.
The impact sent the train careening several hundred meters down the track before coming to a stop. Thirteen passengers sustained minor injuries, while two people initially deemed critically injured were later reported as "doing well," local authorities confirmed.
"My first thoughts go to his family, his loved ones and colleagues," said SNCF CEO Jean Castex, who is also a former French prime minister, during a news conference Tuesday. "I also want to pay tribute to the two train staff members who were on board and who calmly stepped in and helped the passengers."
The lorry driver, who was transporting military equipment for a commercial haulier, is in police custody. Officials emphasized the driver was not military personnel and said it was too early to determine the cause of the collision. An investigation into potential aggravated manslaughter is underway.
One witness aboard the train described seeing "windows breaking and passengers hitting their heads," telling La Voix du Nord that some people broke their noses from the impact. Eliot, who was commuting to Paris for work, said he felt "lucky" compared to other passengers.
Castex noted there had been no indication of problems with the level crossing barriers, and that a slower train had passed through the same crossing just minutes earlier without incident.
The regional rail network TER Hauts-de-France suspended direct services between Béthune and Lens until Thursday, with trains taking alternative routes. Other lines in the area are resuming service gradually but with significant delays.
The incident underscores persistent safety challenges at French level crossings. According to BBC News, France recorded 89 level crossing collisions in 2024, resulting in 20 deaths. This compares starkly with just six such incidents in the United Kingdom during the same period.
Rail union SUD-Rail has called for "total transparency" regarding the investigation. The collision marks the second fatal train-truck incident in France in less than two weeks, following a death in the southeastern Var region when a regional train struck a truck.
Regional President Xavier Bertrand described Tuesday's crash as a "terrible tragedy," while Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot announced he was traveling to the scene alongside SNCF leadership.
France's level crossing collision rate—nearly 15 times higher than the UK's—raises questions about infrastructure safety as European rail networks pursue higher speeds and expanded service.
