Australia's largest rail freight operator Aurizon has urged greater safety awareness around rail tracks after a freight train struck a man believed to be sleeping on the tracks at Mullewa.
Australia's largest rail freight operator Aurizon has urged greater safety awareness around rail tracks after a freight train struck a man believed to be sleeping on the tracks at Mullewa.
The incident happened in the early hours of Friday morning. Aurizon train drivers sounded the horn and applied the emergency brakes but were unable to stop the train in time.
"It's a miracle the incident didn't result in a fatality," Aurizon Vice President of Safety, Health and Environment, Neil Backer, said today.
"We urge everyone to take the utmost care around rail tracks.
"Anyone going onto the rail corridor is risking their own lives and the lives of others.
"Our train drivers have families and they want to make it home safely.
"These incidents can cause significant trauma to our train drivers."
Aurizon will again be joining with Brookfield Rail and visiting schools in Mullewa and Geraldton as part of this year's Rail Safety Week regional education program running from 11 – 17 August.