Fatal crossing

By Melissa Meehan
A DANDENONG South level crossing received its scheduled maintenance less than 24 hours before a crash that claimed the life of a 53-year-old Garfield woman.
The woman was driving eastbound along Abbotts Road when her small Hyundai hatchback car was struck by the 6.20am Flinders-Cranbourne train at the crossing early Tuesday morning.
Connex communications officer Lanie Harris said the boom gates were operating as normal on the day of the crash.
“They only yesterday (Monday) received a scheduled maintenance service as part of regular procedure,” Ms Harris said.
“There will be a full investigation, however, and the boom gate operation will be a part of this.”
Services on the Cranbourne line were affected for most of the day.
Emergency crews who described the scene as “gruesome” said the six carriage train pushed the wreckage 250 metres down the line after the smash.
Police spokesperson Sarah Mahoney said inquiries were ongoing. “At this early stage there is evidence that the boom gates were down at the time of the collision and police believe the lights and bells were in operation,” Ms Mahoney said.
She said the Cranbourne bound train was heading south when the car allegedly crashed through boom gates to cross the tracks before the collision.
“We understand the train was travelling at 110 kilometres when the incident occurred.”
Ms Mahoney said that it was believed approximately 20 passengers were on the train at the time. “There were no injuries to the driver or any passengers,” Ms Mahoney said.
Ambulance Victoria group manager Andrew Watson said Dandenong intensive care paramedics and Springvale advanced life support paramedics were called to the crash just after 7am.
“Intensive care paramedics made their way to the car, which had been pushed about 200 metres along the train line,” Mr Watson said. “Unfortunately one person in the car had died. No-one else was in the vehicle.”
The crash at Dandenong South was the third fatality on Melbourne’s rail system in as many days.