Car hit by train: Accident at level crossing near Premstätten

The Styria State Police Directorate took over the operational coordination after the incident. Rescue services and the fire department were dispatched to the scene to care for any injured persons and secure the accident site. The Graz-Köflacher Bahn line was closed in the affected section for the duration of the recovery and investigation work.

At the time this report was compiled, no confirmed information was available regarding the number of persons involved, the exact sequence of events, or the degree of injuries to those affected. The Styria State Police Directorate announced further investigations to reconstruct the precise course of the accident.

Operation and line closure

In the district of Graz-Umgebung, incidents at level crossings occur repeatedly, as the regional rail network of the Graz-Köflacher Bahn has several at-grade crossings. Road users are called upon to exercise particular caution at such crossings, as trains are difficult to assess visually and have a long braking distance.

According to initial reports, the recovery of the vehicle was complex. Specialized fire department equipment had to be deployed to remove the car from the immediate danger zone of the track. Only after clearance by the incident command could train traffic on the line toward Lieboch and Graz-Köflach be gradually resumed.

Police appeal for witnesses

The police pointed out that witnesses to the accident are asked to report to the nearest police station. Information could help clarify why the passenger car crossed the level crossing despite the approaching train.

Investigators are examining in particular whether the technical safety device of the crossing was functioning properly and whether the train's driver had sounded a horn or initiated an emergency braking. The visibility conditions at the time of the accident on Thursday morning are also part of the investigation.