One dead in Dutch train collision

One person was killed and 37 injured today when a Dutch passenger train collided head-on with a Belgian freight train.

The accident happened shortly before noon just outside Roermond, 110 miles south-east of Amsterdam.

Police spokesman Peter van Raaij said the national rail company was investigating the cause of the crash.

The victim’s identity was not immediately released, but Dutch media reported that he was a machinist for the rail company.

Van Raaij said seven people were seriously hurt, and were taken to nearby hospitals by helicopter.

Others were being treated for light injuries and shock at temporary shelters.

Television pictures of the damaged passenger train showed that its front carriage had been partially crushed.