The accident occurred on the train colliding with a large truck, which stopped at a crossing. Three wagons were derailed, television reports.
Witnesses have described to the newspaper La Stampa that the truck, which was registered in Lithuania appeared especially heavy. A minivan, which drove in front of the truck crossed safely, however with the train crossing barriers lowering, the truck did not make it to cross in time and stopped on the rails.
The truck with Lithuanian license plates was driving to a nearby warehouse, according to the news agency ANSA. So far the truck’s cargo is unknown.
RFI, the owner of Italy’s rail network, specifies that the barrier was being lowered with the train nearing, but due to unknown reasons, the truck broke the barrier and stopped on the rails.
Emergency crews are searching the train, seeking potentially still trapped passengers. The train departed Turin at 22:30 local time.