1-Year-Old Toddler Dies After Being Struck by Freight Train: ‘Absolute Tragedy’

A 1-year-old girl has died after being struck by a freight train in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia.

Emergency services were called to Baranbah Street in Baan Baa, near Narrabri, around 7:50 p.m. on Nov. 7 following reports that a young child had been hit by a train, according to the New South Wales Police Force.

Authorities said the toddler had been walking along the side of the road before being “clipped by the train.” She sustained severe injuries and received immediate medical attention at the scene before being transported to Narrabri Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Oxley Police District Superintendent David Cooper described the incident as an “absolute tragedy” and confirmed that investigations 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 experiencing right now.”

The train driver, a 22-year-old man, was uninjured but taken to the hospital for mandatory testing. “There is no suggestion at all that the train driver had any negligence, and I feel for that young man as well,” Cooper added.

Narrabri Shire Council Mayor Darrell Tiemens said the small community of around 170 residents has been deeply affected by the loss.

“Our hearts go out to the family of the little girl tragically lost — it’s a devastating event that’s deeply impacted our close-knit community of Baan Baa,” Tiemens told ABC. “They’re a young family who recently moved into the area, and it’s just tragic.”

“If this had happened in a suburb of Sydney, it would still be tough, but when it happens in a tiny village where everyone knows everyone, it’s really hard to take,” he said. “It’s an incredible community — they will rebuild, but right now, it’s about helping everyone process the shock.”