On Friday 29 July 2005 at about 0506, a rake of 9 wagons that had been detached from the locomotives of Train 644 ran away to the south from Waingawa. The runaway wagons collided with a motor vehicle at Hodders Road level crossing, about 11.75 kilometres (km) from Waingawa, seriously injuring the driver. The wagons then continued for a further 2.75 km before stopping at about 70.50 km between Dalefield and Matarawa.
The driver of the vehicle was taken by ambulance to Wairarapa Hospital, and subsequently air lifted to Wellington Hospital.
Safety issues identified included:
• train braking and shunting procedures
• post-runaway response procedures.
Safety recommendations have been made to the Chief Executives of ONTRACK and Toll NZ Consolidated Limited to address these issues.
