Smash miracle

By Nicole Williams
TWO women from Casey were lucky to survive when their car was hit by a train on a level crossing in Dandenong South on Friday morning.
The car is believed to have become stuck on the Greens Road crossing near the South Gippsland Highway and was hit by the Metro train at about 8.30am.
The driver, a 29-year-old Narre Warren woman, suffered minor injuries including bruising and was taken to The Alfred hospital but was released the following day. The passenger, a 65-year-old woman from Cranbourne North, had serious head, leg and internal injuries and was also taken to The Alfred hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Senior Sergeant Pat McGavigan from Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol said: “She was on the wrong side of the boom gate and did make a decision to move in front of the train,” he said.
“Thankfully no one died as a result.”
The car caught fire after the collision but a quick-thinking truck driver grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out the flames.
Ambulance Group Manager Andrew Watson said paramedics were amazed no one was killed.
“It’s a miracle they survived as the car is virtually unrecognisable, with debris strewn more than 100 metres along the track,” he said.
“Two women were extensively trapped in the car for more than half an hour and paramedics could only access the women through the window to treat them initially.”
The train stopped about 500 metres from the crash site and the train driver and passengers were helped off the carriages by emergency crews using a ladder.
The train driver and passengers were shaken but not injured.
Sen Sgt McGavigan said it was a reminder for people to be careful around boom gates.
“We get too many crossing incidents,” he said.
“People have to be careful and obey boom gates and bells.
“On a daily basis, pedestrians and drivers take risks and trains cannot stop quickly.”
A spokesperson from Metro Trains said the Cranbourne line was suspended between Cranbourne and Dandenong Railway Stations with buses replacing trains until after 4pm on Friday.
Investigations are ongoing and Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol is asking witnesses to the accident to contact Senior Constable Kylie Holmes on 8558 8600.