Australia train crash kills 10

A passenger train and truck collided at a rail crossing in southern Australia Tuesday, killing at least 10 people and injuring up to 50, police said.

The truck collided with the train's second carriage, mangling it and causing the carriage behind it to derail, Victoria state police spokesman Leigh Wadeson said.

Witnesses said the train's locomotive and the first two of the train's three carriages continued on about 500 feet after the impact.

"It just seemed like the whole train was going to derail," said passenger Sue Fyffe.

Police would not say how many people remained unaccounted for and possibly were still trapped in the train, which was heading for the state capital of Melbourne, near Kerang in Victoria state.

Up to 50 people were injured and the most seriously hurt were flown to hospitals in the Melbourne, 175 miles southeast of Kerang, a small farming town.

The truck driver, who was alone in the vehicle, was among about 12 people who were seriously injured in the crash, Victoria state police Inspector Steve Gibson said.

While there was no barrier at the rail crossing, it had lights and bells to warn highway traffic of an approaching train.

Accident investigation experts were on the way to the scene from Melbourne, Gibson said. He would not publicly speculate on the cause of the accident.

"All I do know at this point in time is that it is a crossing of the rail over the highway which is guarded by flashing lights and warning bells and my information is that they were operating at the time of the accident," Gibson said.

Victoria Premier Steve Bracks said the crash would be investigated a coroner and government rail authorities as well as police.