At Least 19 Injured in Freight Train and Minibus Crash Near Channel Tunnel Entrance
The collision occurred Thursday evening in Pas-de-Calais, France, causing disruption to rail services.
Nineteen people were injured when a freight train collided with a minibus near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel in France on Thursday evening. The crash occurred around 8 p.m. local time in Pas-de-Calais.
The minibus reportedly overturned onto the railway tracks before an oncoming freight train struck it. Emergency services, including fire engines, ambulances, and a helicopter, responded to the scene.
Authorities initially reported multiple injuries, with some suggesting as many as five people were in critical condition. However, French officials later confirmed that 19 individuals, including the minibus driver, sustained injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. Several of the injured suffered head and leg injuries.
The incident led to the cancellation of Eurostar's final two services from Paris Gare du Nord and London St Pancras on Thursday evening, disrupting cross-Channel rail traffic.
The circumstances leading to the minibus overturning on the tracks remain unclear. The collision happened on the French side of the Channel Tunnel, which connects Coquelles, France, with Folkestone, England. The 31-mile tunnel, operational since 1994, is a vital transport link for passengers, freight, and vehicles between the UK and mainland Europe. The accident occurred outside the tunnel entrance, not beneath the English Channel.