1 Dead, 32 Injured in Train and Truck Collision in Yokohama, Japan — 5th September 2019

A deadly collision occurred in Yokohama, Japan on 5th September 2019, when a Keikyu Corporation express train struck a truck at a level crossing, resulting in one fatality and at least 32 injuries. The impact caused several train carriages to derail and ignited a fire that engulfed the truck.

🚆 How the Collision Happened

According to the Japan Transport Safety Board, the express train was travelling at approximately 120 km/h between Koyasu and Kanagawa‑shimmachi stations when the driver noticed the crossing’s obstruction warning signal. Despite applying the service brake and then the emergency brake, the train collided with a truck that had entered the crossing.

The train continued for around 67 metres after impact before coming to a stop. The collision smashed windows, derailed multiple carriages, and scattered debris across the tracks.

🚚 Truck Driver Killed

The truck driver — a man in his 60s — was pulled from the wreckage and taken to hospital in critical condition, where he later died. The truck was carrying boxes of citrus fruit, which were crushed and strewn across the scene.

👥 Injuries and Passenger Impact

Reports indicate:

• 32+ people injured, including passengers, the train driver, and conductor
• At least 15 serious injuries reported in the official investigation summary
• Passengers described hearing “incredible” glass‑breaking sounds as the train smashed into the truck
• Several carriages were heavily damaged, with broken windows and twisted metal

🔥 Fire and Immediate Aftermath

The collision caused the truck to burst into flames, sending black smoke into the air. Rescue teams, police, and railway staff rushed to the scene to evacuate passengers and secure the area.

The accident halted services on the busy Keikyu commuter line, used by more than 19,000 passengers daily, causing major disruption across Yokohama and Tokyo’s commuter network.

🕵️ Investigation

Authorities launched a full investigation to determine:

• Why the truck entered the crossing
• Whether signalling systems operated correctly
• The sequence of braking and emergency alerts

The Japan Transport Safety Board later released a detailed accident report outlining the timeline and contributing factors.