Two employees in charge of ensuring safety at a level crossing in the north-central Vietnamese province of Thanh Hoa have been suspended following a fatal collision between a train and a truck on Thursday.

Pham Van Vui and Nguyen Van Hung, two attendants at the level crossing in Truong Lam Commune, Tinh Gia District, were handed the temporary suspension on Thursday afternoon.

The decision was made as part of the investigation into the incident that killed two and injured nine others, said Nguyen Thanh Tam, deputy director of the Thanh Hoa Railway JSC.

It took 14 hours for competent authorities to finish repairing the 100-meter section damaged railroad in Truong Lam Commune, Tam continued, adding that the north-to-south railway system has resumed its normal operation.

The accident occurred at around 12:30 am when the SE19 train from Hanoi to the central city of Da nang, carrying more than 400 passengers, collided with a truck attempting to cross the tracks.

The level crossing in Truong Lam Commune, Tinh Gia District, Thanh Hoa Province. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The train’s locomotive and six of its carriages derailed and ended up in a nearby paddy field, while the truck was pushed entirely off the tracks.

The train driver and his assistant were killed while nine others were injured in the accident.​

The truck driver was among the wounded and is currently in a critical condition at the Vietnam- Germany Hospital in Hanoi.

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