Goolwa-Victor Harbor Cockle Train in truck crash at Middleton

An attendant working on the popular Cockle Train has revealed his fears when he saw a truck approaching a level crossing at Middleton this morning.

A worker on the popular tourist train that collided with a truck on Wednesday morning has told of his fears for his safety when he saw a truck approaching.

Paul Kennelly, the Cockle Train’s passenger attendant, told 7News he thought he’d get “seriously hurt” when an earth moving truck crashed into the train at Middleton at about 10.20am on Wednesday.

“[There was] just a huge bang, there’s no skid marks at all,” he told 7News.

Mr Kennelly told he hoped the driver would learn from the experience.

Binny Roberts, the assistant manager at Beach Huts Middleton accommodation located close to the collision, said she didn’t hear the accident but could hear sirens.

“We were very nervous,” she said.

Ms Roberts said she checked community pages on Facebook where she learnt of the accident.

“I felt sick,” she said. “(We were) just thinking we hope no one is hurt. It just makes your heart race.”

A truck and the Cockle Train collided at a railway crossing at Middleton. Picture: SA CFS

The assistant manager said she was worried guests were on the Cockle Train at the time of the crash, but was later pleased to hear they weren’t.

Ms Roberts said having the train not operational will be disappointing for some tourists.

“It’s one of our major attractions,” she said. “It’s sad for our region.”

Karen Thorn and Helen Williamson, visiting from New South Wales, said they’d decided at the last minute to not travel on the Cockle Train on Wednesday.

“When we got into Victor Harbor (this morning) we could hear the sirens,” Ms Thorn said.

The pair went to see the aftermath of the collision on Wednesday afternoon after a day of sightseeing.

“It was a bit of a shock,” they said.

Petersen Rd has been closed after the crash as emergency crews work to clear the scene. The Cockle Train runs from Goolwa to Victor Harbor each day.

A spokesman for SteamRanger Heritage Railway, which runs the Cockle Train, said minor injuries have been reported to passengers, crew and the truck driver.

There were 14 passengers and four crew members on board the train at the time of the collision.

A truck and the Cockle Train collided at Peterson Road, Middleton. Picture: Middleton CFS

The train driver and a young passenger were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Passengers were transported back to Goolwa by a chartered bus.

All Cockle Train services between Goolwa and Port Elliot have been cancelled until further notice.

Police have confirmed the truck driver will be issued an on the spot fine for failing to give way.

It is not the first time a vehicle has collided with the train as last year a woman and her children have luckily escaped serious harm after their car collided with the iconic locomotive at Port Elliot.

The occupants of the vehicle – a mother, 43, and two children, 11 and 13, were shaken but suffered no serious injuries.

The woman was fined for failing to give way to the train.

There were no reported injuries to the 115 people on board the historic steam train, which is hugely popular during school holidays.

Truck crash causes Hills freeway chaos

This comes after traffic conditions have returned to normal after a crash involving a truck caused traffic chaos for commuters on a major Adelaide freeway on Wednesday morning.

A truck with two trailers crashed into a concrete barrier just after the Stirling on-ramp on the Southeastern Freeway about 2.20am.

The B-double jackknifed on the freeway after crashing into the barrier. Picture: 7NEWS

It caused lengthy delays on the Southeastern Freeway. Picture: 7NEWS

The uptrack of the freeway was closed while emergency services removed the truck. Picture: 7NEWS

The out-of-control truck slammed into a concrete barrier Picture: 7NEWS

There have been lengthy delays on the South-Eastern Freeway after an out-of-control truck slammed into a concrete barrier. The B-double jack-knifed after impact, forcing lane closures and speed restrictions. Details in 7NEWS at 6pm | https://t.co/8ftPfGh39Y@regternathan#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/civmQnKI7p

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) June 14, 2023

Traffic on the uptrack was reduced to one lane and commuters in both directions were affected, because of works on the tunnels on the downtrack.

The truck and trailers were removed at about 7am.

“The downtrack into the city is operating at two lanes with restricted speeds,” SA Police senior constable Kylee Simpson told ABC Radio Adelaide.

40km/h speed restrictions are in place due to ongoing roadworks.

The truck driver involved in the incident was not injured.

Police and emergency services attended the scene to clean up spilt fuel, debris and damage to the barrier.

Heavy vehicles were stopped at the bottom of the freeway and held up for several hours.

The government has “funded a planning study” for a freight corridor to address issues with trucks Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said.

“This work is well underway and will consider network-wide improvements and the economic assessment to determine the value of the corridor.”

Mr Koutsantonis said early modelling suggests the bypass “may remove around eight to 10 per cent” of trucks on the southeastern Freeway.

He warned that a bypass would not be a “silver bullet” that solves the issue.

But RAA is in support of the Greater Adelaide Bypass, senior safety and infrastructure manager Charles Mountain.

“The Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass would take more heavy vehicles off the South Eastern Freeway downtrack,” he said.

Mr Mountain said RAA is also calling for further investment into heavy vehicle safety ahead of the state budget.

“A $40m investment to install a third safety ramp would reduce the likelihood of out-of-control heavy vehicles crashes at the base of the freeway.

“We also want to see a commitment to long-term improvements to public transport in the Adelaide Hills, so we can reduce the reliance on passenger vehicles by Hills communities.”

RAA data from 2017 to 2021 shows, on average, there are about 55 crashes per year on the South-Eastern Freeway between Portrush Rd and Bridgewater.

However, almost three quarters of these are “relatively minor”.