An 83-year-old motorist has died after the vehicle he was driving was struck by a train at the Argibay level crossing, also known as Adarse, in Alverca. The vehicle was “dragged approximately 200 meters along the track,” an official source from the Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the PSP stated.
Witnesses reported that the barriers at the level crossing were down, and the octogenarian driver “attempted to cross” but was hit by the train traveling in the south-north direction, the source added to Lusa.
An official from Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), the entity managing the railway infrastructure, reported that the collision occurred shortly after 5:45 PM. The automatic level crossing was operational, and by 8:00 PM, police authorities were still conducting extrication and investigation operations.
Rail traffic alternated on a single track until about 7:25 PM, at which point it was completely suspended to remove the crashed vehicle and the body of its sole occupant, explained the IP source.
As of 8:25 PM, there was no prediction for when the vehicle removal operations would conclude, according to the same source.
No train passengers were injured. All have been evacuated from the carriages and are currently at Alverca station, confirmed a source from the Lisbon District Command for Relief Operations (CDOS) to Notícias ao Minuto.
The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) indicates that the collision, which occurred in Alverca do Ribatejo and Sobralinho in the Lisbon district, mobilized 13 personnel supported by five vehicles.
