Car hit by Cockle Train at notorious Victor Habor level crossing

A driver has escaped with minor injuries after their car was pushed six metres down the track by a heritage Cockle Train in Victor Harbor.

A driver has sustained minor injuries after a car collided with a heritage Cockle Train at Victor Harbor.

At 11.06am Sunday, emergency crews were called to Grantley Ave after reports a car had failed to give way to a train at a level crossing.

The train, which was carrying visitors travelling between Goolwa and Victor Harbor, had minor damage and no passengers were injured.

A police media spokeswoman said train services would likely be restricted for the remainder of the day.

“It’s going to be a prolonged incident,” she said.

“There were only minor injuries to the driver of the vehicle and no injuries to anyone on the train and only minor damage to the train.”

Commenting on a Facebook post by SteamRanger Heritage Railway, Paul Sierke said he saw the incident unfold.

A cockle train collided with a car Sunday, December 19, 2021. Picture: Ahhlifeskills

“This was the crossing near the yacht club in (Victor Harbor) – Cockle Train had pushed a car 20 feet (6m) down the track towards Port Elliott. Saw it after leaving music gig in Victor,” he said.

General Manager of AHH Lifeskill Adelaide Schiblhut, who was on her way to pick up a group of children from the train, said the incident had sparked a sense of excitement.

“Obviously no one was injured, although the driver was attended to by an ambulance,” she said.

“But for the kids, it was really exciting because: what a story to tell? I mean, how often does a train hit a car?”

The Grantley Ave crossing is a known site for train and car collisions.

It has resulted in ongoing calls by locals for the local council to examine road safety, including the installation of boom gates.

The historic train is a popular 30 minute service among steam train enthusiasts and families, running between Goolwa to Victor. It is used during school holidays, and a diesel engine on other days.