This is the heartpounding moment a truck driver stuck on a level crossing was forced to jump to safety seconds before a freight train destroyed his vehicle.
Footage taken by a horrified witness showed the construction rubble-filled truck getting stuck on the A2 junction between Marienborn and Belsdorf in the Börde district of Saxony-Anhalt at around midday on Friday.
The freight train, carrying several brand new Audi cars, slammed into the truck, dragging it along at high speed at the driver tried desperately to brake.
Debris could be seen flung far and high.
German newspaper Bild reported that rubble and parts from the destroyed truck were dragged for more than 100m (328ft) as the freighter slowed to a halt.
An emergency officer at the scene told the newspaper: ‘A technical defect led to the accident.
‘The truck driver just managed to make an emergency call before getting to safety.’
Local media reported that the train driver was only lightly injured by the crash, though both the truck and the locomotive were totally destroyed.
Footage taken by a horrified witness showed the construction rubble-filled truck getting stuck on the A2 junction between Marienborn and Belsdorf in the Börde district of Saxony-Anhalt at around midday on Friday
The freight train, carrying several brand new Audi cars, slammed into the truck, dragging it along at high speed at the driver tried desperately to brake
Debris could be seen flung far and high
It was reported that the railway crossing would be closed until at least Wednesday, as authorities investigated and clear the incident up.
As a result, major train routes were heavily disrupted.
Long-distance trains to and from Hanover were being diverted as result via Wolfsburg and Stendal, leading to additional travel times of 20 minutes.
There were also partial road closures imposed across the region.
