Footage shows moment truck hits freight train near Waikanae Railway Station on Kāpiti Coast

Dramatic video has emerged showing the moment a freight train smashed into a truck at a level crossing on the Kāpiti Coast this morning.

Roads were closed near Waikanae Railway Station after police were notified of the incident at 6.20am.

In the video, the truck driver can be seen jumping out of his cab and running off while the approaching train sounded its horn.

Seconds later, the thundering train crashes into the truck’s cab, launching it sideways.

The truck driver could be seen jumping out of the cab and running away from the tracks before the train struck.

“Fortunately, both the truck and train drivers are uninjured,” a police spokesperson said.

Images sent to the Herald show significant damage to the front of the truck, which was transporting a dump truck on its tray.

The freight train had come to a stop on the tracks.

Police said both the truck and train drivers are uninjured despite the large wreck. Photo / Darrin Bull

Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Wellington Free Ambulance vehicles could be seen blocking the road.

Nearby resident Darrin Bull, who lives 200m from the level crossing, told the Herald he didn’t see the accident but “certainly heard it”.

“I was outside. I heard the train horn and it didn’t stop. It was big and long and at the same time the brakes.

“You kind of thought, ‘this was interesting’, and then an almighty bang. The brakes and the horn kept going and then there was silence.”

A nearby resident said he heard the train's horn and brakes before an 'almighty bang', and then silence. Photo / Darrin Bull

Bull said there was a “whole stack of sirens” after the incident at dawn.

He visited the scene shortly after and said the train had travelled several hundred metres after the accident before coming to a stop.

“It’s just a mess, you can see the smashed-up cab.”

Bull said he was surprised nobody had been injured in the crash.

“It’s a big truck. I would have thought the train driver might have been injured.”

He said quite a few roads around the scene had been closed and there would be significant disruptions for “about a third of Waikanae”, who live on the other side of the train line.

KiwiRail said the Elizabeth St level crossing was “fully protected” with barrier arms, lights and bells. Photo / Darrin Bull

“That’s the only way out. There’s no way for them to get to work. There’s a school on that side, so if your kids are on this side of the train track, they can’t get to school.

“It’s been a local community issue for some time, whenever something goes wrong with the signals or anything, about a third of Waikanae gets blocked off.”

In an update this afternoon, police said the roads had since reopened and thanked all affected residents and motorists for their patience, according to 1 News.

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