No injuries in car-train crash in Saitama Pref.

Written by Meenaa on Saturday, November 15th, 2008

A Tobu Railway Co. express train heading for Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo, collided with a minivan in Fujimi, Saitama Prefecture, on Friday morning, wrecking the car. No injuries were reported.

The accident happened at about 8:45 a.m. when the 10-carriage train, which departed from Shinrinkoen Station bound for Ikebukuro Station on the Tobu Tojo Line, collided with the van at a railroad crossing located between Yanasegawa and Mizuhodai stations.

No injuries were reported among the estimated 1,600 morning rush-hour passengers, but they had to walk about 400 meters to Mizuhodai Station.

The van was destroyed in the accident but the 79-year-old driver, from the same city, escaped unhurt.

According to a spokesman for Tobu Railway, the car was stranded in the railway crossing because the gate barrier at the railroad crossing came down before the car could clear the intersection.
(Nov. 15, 2008)