An Alicante to Murcia commuter train smashed into a car on an unguarded level crossing in the Orihuela municipality on Tuesday, the car driver apparently oblivious to the presence of the train or the warning lights on the crossing.
The incident occurred at around 15:15 when the train driver noticed the car crossing the railway and immediately applied the emergency brakes. The train was not able to stop in time and crashed into the car, coming to a stop several metres after.
The train driver was able to then go to assist the woman driver and summon the emergency services who arrived at the scene and transferred the injured driver, who was conscious at the time, to hospital.
After the incident the train driver was heard to state his surprise that the train didn´t derail, causing serious injuries to those on board. The train had to return to Callosa de Segura on account of the front being too badly damaged to continue.
The car was almost completely destroyed in the impact as was the crossing warning system. The judicial police are investigating the circumstances.