NEED TO KNOW
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A 1-year-old girl was fatally struck by a freight train in New South Wales, Australia, according to local police
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The toddler had allegedly been walking along the side of the road before being “clipped by the train”
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“This is nothing but an absolute tragedy and our heartfelt condolences go out to the family,” Oxley Police District Superintendent David Cooper said
A 1-year-old girl died after she was struck by a freight train in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia.
On Nov. 7, emergency services were called to Baranbah Street in Baan Baa, near Narrabri, around 7:50 p.m. after receiving reports that a toddler had been hit by a freight train, according to the New South Wales Police Force.
The toddler, who had allegedly been walking along the side of the road before being “clipped by the train,” was treated for serious injuries at the scene before being transported to Narrabri Hospital, where she died.
According to Oxley Police District Superintendent David Cooper, investigations surrounding the “absolute tragedy” are ongoing.
“We can establish at this stage that the child was with a number of other children, but those circumstances are still under investigation,” Cooper said in a press conference, per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). “The parents were not in the immediate vicinity, but we are aware of where the parents were, and the supervision of the child is not in doubt.”
“I want to highlight that this is nothing but an absolute tragedy and our heartfelt condolences go out to the family,” he continued. “This will have a broad impact on the community, and we want to make sure everybody gets the support they need. I can only imagine the horror and grief that [the parents] are in at the moment.”
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New South Wales ambulance service
The train driver, a 22-year-old man, appeared to be uninjured but was taken to the hospital for mandatory testing. “There is no suggestion at all that the train diver had any negligence, and I feel for that young man as well,” Cooper added.
Following the incident, Narrabri Shire Council Mayor Darrell Tiemens echoed how the small community of around 170 people had been deeply impacted by the tragedy.
“Our hearts go out, obviously, to the family of the little girl tragically lost … it’s a devastating event and really deeply affected our close-knit community of Baan Baa,” Tiemens said, per the ABC. “They’re a young family that’s moved into the area, is my belief, and it’s just tragic.”
“If this happened in a suburb of Sydney it would be tough, but when it happens in a tiny village where everyone knows everyone, it’s really hard to take,” he added. “It’s an incredible community … they will rebuild but at the moment it’s just a matter for us all getting over the shock.”
Read the original article on People
