Train crunches car on tracks

Metro staff repairing the train in Tecoma after it crashed into a car. 95787 Picture: JESSE GRAHAM

POLICE believe a car that was hit by a train in Tecoma on Friday was deliberately dumped.
Belgrave Police Sergeant Mick Hall said the car, a blue Ford, went over an embankment on Glenfern Road at around 4.30am on Friday 15 March.
The car then travelled through a line of bushes and trees before coming to rest on the train tracks.
Shortly afterwards, a city-bound train collided with the car, dragging it 30 metres, causing damage to the undercarriage of the train and destroying the car. No-one was in the car at the time of the crash.
Emergency Services were on site shortly afterwards and train services were halted, causing major delays and leaving peak hour commuters to travel on replacement buses.
“There was a fair bit of damage and part of the car was jammed underneath – they couldn’t drive the train away without crunching the thing and causing thousands of dollars of damage,” Sgt Hall said.
“There was no occupant of the car – at the moment, we’re wondering if it was a deliberate act.”
The entrance to Glenfern Road was cordoned off by police as they investigated the scene and a tow truck attempted to drag the car through the bush to clear the tracks.
Train services resumed on the Belgrave Line at around 2pm Friday, with the afternoon peak hour running to schedule.
Police are still investigating the incident.