A high-speed train carrying hundreds of passengers crashed into a fruit lorry at a level crossing in the Netherlands.
Terrifying CCTV footage shows the moment the truck drove through the barrier at the crossing as the train passed through.
Dozens of pears could be seen raining down from the sky and scattering the area as the trailer was smashed to pieces.
Five people inside the lorry were injured during the incident, which took place at around 11.30am on October 30.
The crash occurred in the village of Meteren, around 70km southeast of Amsterdam.
One local who heard the collision said: ‘There was terrible material damage and a lot of pressure on the driver involved, but I’m glad only minor injuries are reported.’
Another joked: ‘It all went pear-shaped so quickly.’
No train was in sight when the lorry initially passed through, with 30% of the huge motor safely across.
A car on the opposite side of the tracks approached.
The lorry driver assumed they had enough time to reverse back across the tracks to the other side, but the truck was trapped as the barriers came down on both sides with the safety alarms blaring.
The driver attempted to move forward as half the truck was then stuck on the lines.
Two of the barriers were broken as the lorry attempted to get out of the way but the train came racing down the tracks, destroying the trailer.
The CCTV footage was released by ProRail, the government transport agency, to raise awareness of what drivers should do if caught in a similar situation.
It said drivers should smash through the barriers to get to safety.
A spokesman said: ‘The footage shows how quickly things can go wrong at a railway crossing and is shocking to watch.
‘Better to damage a barrier than to put a life in danger. If you’re stuck between the barriers, keep going.’
ProRail said a kilometre of the railway track is now in need of replacing.
Repairs are expected to take place ‘well into the weekend’.
The train was also destroyed in the collision.
A video posted on ProRail’s Instagram page shows the ongoing clean-up efforts in the aftermath of the crash.
