Sleeping man struck by freight train
A man was lucky to escape with only minor injuries when he was struck by a freight train after falling asleep on tracks in the early hours of this morning.
Police said the freight train weighing about 600 tonnes was travelling through Mullewa about 1.40am when the driver saw the man lying on the tracks.
“The driver activated the emergency horn and brakes but the man did not move and the train struck the man,” police said.
Police believe the stock pusher on the front of the locomotive pushed the man off the tracks and away from the train, saving him from serious injury.
The 19-year-old man from Mullewa was given first-aid by local police.
He was taken to Geraldton Hospital and treated for minor injuries.
The train driver was in shock, but not injured, police said.
