RO-2008-101 Express freight train 923, level crossing collision and resultant derailment, Orari, 14 March 2008

At about 1149 on Friday 14 March 2008, southbound express freight Train 923 collided with a truck on Hawke Road level crossing, Orari, between Rangitata and Temuka on the Main South Line, when the truck moved into the path of the approaching train. The level crossing had passive control "Stop" signage. All signage and road markings were in place and in good condition.
The collision caused the locomotive to derail and roll before coming to rest 172 metres (m) past the level crossing. Twelve wagons directly behind the locomotive also derailed. The locomotive and 10 wagons were extensively damaged. The other two derailed wagons sustained moderate damage. The truck was extensively damaged.
The truck driver was fatally injured and the locomotive engineer suffered serious injury.
No safety deficiencies in the rail operating system were identified that contributed to the collision.
A safety recommendation was made to the Chief Executive of the NZ Transport Agency to address the issue of the capability of the locomotive event recorder to transmit in the event of an accident.