Cane train season chaos: Community reacts to recent accidents
Two separate cane train crashes in the space of a week have prompted calls for people to be more aware of their surroundings during the crushing season.
Cairns
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An investigation is under way after a motorist collided with a cane train on Monday morning - the second in a week - igniting a heated debate among residents about rail line safety.
The collision, captured on camera by a resident who later shared the images on social media, shows a silver SUV at the railway crossing in Mt Sheridan about 9.30 am, with significant front-end damage, including parts hanging off the vehicle.
General counsel at MSF Sugar Brad Egerton said a “full investigation” was under way, looking into the circumstances of Monday’s incident.
“Based on the preliminary investigation, I can indicate that a motorist in a compact SUV failed to stop at a signalised intersection at Forest Gardens and as a result the motor vehicle collided with cane bins which were being hauled by a locomotive at low speed of 15 to 20 km/h,” he said.
“At the time of the incident, flashing lights at the intersection were providing a visual warning to motorists, together with an audible warning that was sounding.”
Mr Egerton said thankfully no one was injured in the collision.
“Nonetheless, MSF Sugar implores motorists to pay attention when approaching intersections in Far North Queensland during the cane harvesting season, which, depending on the weather, can extend to December each year,” he said.
Comments on social media ranged from alarm to bewilderment.
One person wrote on Facebook that crashes were starting to become the “norm” and urged motorists to “please pay attention”.
“For crying out loud it’s a minute of your time, you may not get back if you choose to race a locomotive,” he said.
Other residents commented on the photos, saying similar crashes were happening “so much lately”.
A third resident said “second one in a week, seasons been running since June, wake up people.”
This comes after three people were taken to hospital following a separate accident on Thursday, October 17, when a car crashed into a cane train on Beatrice Street in Mooroobool.
Emergency services responded to the scene about 10.30 am on Thursday and transported a driver and two passengers to Cairns hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Investigators have appealed to the public, for anyone who witnessed the crash, have CCTV or dash camera footage of the incident to contact police.
Senior Constable Stewart Allen said three people in the car were taken to hospital.
“Obviously, we’ve got to wait for dashcam footage to find out what’s gone on, but we’re going to say the car went through a red light,” he said.
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