At 2:46 p.m., train SE9, traveling north-south bound, collided with a farm vehicle crossing an illegal makeshift railway path in the section between Chi Thanh and Hoa Da stations, specifically in Phu Tan 2 village, O Loan commune.

Upon seeing the farm vehicle, train staff applied emergency brakes but could not stop in time, hitting the vehicle. The strong impact threw the farm vehicle onto the tracks, overturning it approximately 5 meters to the right of the train's car 1, in the direction of travel.

The farm vehicle damaged after being hit by a train. *Minh Khue*

The occupants were also thrown about 7 meters, resulting in the immediate death of 10-year-old Tran Huu Thien. The other two, 7-year-old Tran Nhat Lam and Tran Quang Man, over 60 years old, sustained severe injuries and were transported by relatives to Phu Yen General Hospital, 50 kilometers away.

Witnesses reported that before the accident, many residents shouted warnings to the farm vehicle occupants, perceiving danger, but they did not hear and continued to cross the tracks, leading to the tragic accident.

At the scene, the farm vehicle was severely damaged and deformed. The 13-car train, weighing over 484 tons, had a broken water pipe and a dented pump casing on one car; the locomotive's brake hose was missing.

Train staff assigned personnel to remain at the scene and coordinate with local authorities for resolution. The train resumed its journey at 3:16 p.m. after safety checks confirmed it was fit for travel.

According to authorities, the initial cause of the accident was the farm vehicle's unauthorized crossing of the railway at an illegal makeshift path, violating the railway safety corridor.

Bui Toan