Bus passengers' lucky escape from freight train

File photo

Seven people are lucky to be alive after the bus they were on was hit by a freight train in Paekakariki last night.

The bus became stuck on the track on Beach Rd at about 10.30pm.

The seven passengers managed to get out of harm's way before the bus was smashed in half by a south-bound freight train, Inspector Marty Edghill said.

It was fortunate no one was injured or killed, he said.

It was not known whether the bus had broken down or how it had become stuck.

The accident would be investigated by the Commercial Investigation Unit.