DALFSEN, Netherlands — Several people suffered injuries and one person died Tuesday morning when a passenger train collided with a hydraulic crane in the Netherlands.
The crash happened around 9 a.m. local time.
Photographs from the scene posted on social media and by Dutch news organizations showed the train sprawled nearly horizontally over tracks outside the town of Dalfsen.
— Jildou van Opzeeland (@Jilnow) February 23, 2016
The town's mayor, Han Noten, confirmed the crash claimed one life. He said around 15 people were on board the Arriva train at the time of the collision, according to the Evening Standard.
"Luckily it wasn't the busiest train, so as regards casualties it won't be as bad as it could have been," he told BBC News.
Reports indicated the train's conductor may have been among those dead. Authorities did not immediately confirm the identification.
Er zullen vandaag geen treinen meer rijden op het traject Zwolle-Ommen. Volg ons liveblog: https://t.co/yQ2GUi7i4n pic.twitter.com/5OJv2U66Zt
— NOS (@NOS) February 23, 2016
It was not immediately clear what caused the crash. However, eyewitnesses said the crane waited for a train to pass, and then attempted to cross as a train came from the other direction, The Telegraph reported.
The train hit a hydraulic crane on a crossing, tilted over and went into a field, leaving several carriages lying on their sides.
Cox Media Group
