By Tara Cosoleto, AAP
A truck driver mounted a level crossing between boom gates from an unsealed side road seconds before colliding with an oncoming train.
His fatal final moments have been revealed in an initial report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
The truckie died at the scene after the early morning collision in South Geelong on April 3.
A preliminary report from the transport safety regulator released on Wednesday found he left a company depot only minutes before the crash.
The truck drove up an unsealed road that ran parallel to the tracks before crossing onto the level crossing between the boom barriers.
The V/Line driver sounded the horn and applied the emergency brakes but the train hit the truck about 65km/h.
The truckie, who had only been in the job for a month, died at the scene.
The preliminary report found the level crossing’s boom barriers, flashing lights, warning bells and signs were working at the time of the crash.
The unsealed road used by the truck driver joined up with Barwon Terrace between the level crossing’s boom barriers.
“Our investigation is continuing and will include review and examination of the operation of the level crossing, the operation of the vehicles involved, the layout of the unsealed road and access to the level crossing,” chief investigator Mark Smallwood said.
A review of the traffic management in place prior to, and at the time of the accident, will also be undertaken.
A final report will be released at a later date.
