TGV Train Collides with Truck in France, Driver Killed, 13 Injured

A high-speed TGV train collided with a truck at a level crossing in northern France on Tuesday morning, killing the train driver and injuring 13 passengers, officials reported.

The accident occurred around 7 a.m. between the towns of Béthune and Lens in the Pas-de-Calais region, near Noeux-les-Mines. The train, traveling from Dunkirk to Paris with approximately 300 passengers on board, struck the trailer of a truck carrying military equipment. The impact mangled the front of the train, and first responders worked to free the driver, who was trapped in the cab and later pronounced dead. According to the local prefecture, two passengers remained in critical condition while 11 others suffered less serious injuries. Earlier assessments had indicated up to 27 people hurt, but updated figures from authorities confirmed the lower total.

Emergency services responded quickly to the scene, where photographs showed significant damage to the train's nose. Firefighters and medical teams treated the injured on site, and passengers were evacuated with assistance from replacement buses. The truck driver, who sustained serious injuries, was taken into police custody as investigators began...