“I didn’t know what hit me – I was dragged 20 yards sideways. Luckily, I was wearing a seatbelt,” says the 48-year-old driver who survived a collision with a train at a level crossing in Paralia, Patras, on Tuesday.

Despite suffering fracture injuries, the driver was discharged from the hospital and spoke to pelop.gr about the incident. “I take this route every day for work. At 8 in the morning, I was there. It was raining, my windows were closed, and I proceeded as usual. I looked both ways and saw nothing. Visibility after the STOP sign is non-existent because of the thick vegetation. I crossed without running. If I had rushed, I would have been hit head-on and killed.”

Reflecting on his near-death experience, he remarked, “It feels like I won the lottery, but the hard way.” He added that he only heard the train’s horn at the moment of impact: “There was no prolonged signalling. The operator should have signaled earlier, especially knowing there was a fault. I saw the barriers open and passed. This can’t be happening in 2025, especially near a school just 100 yards away, where parents and children cross every day.”

As the train dragged his car, he says, “The only thing I thought about was my family—how they would survive if I didn’t make it. I hope no one else ever goes through this. What you see in movies—that’s exactly how it felt.”

After the train came to a halt, the driver tried to break open the car door to escape. A resident helped him get out. Reports indicate that the 48-year-old intends to take legal action following the incident.

Hellenic Train’s Official Statement

In response to the incident, Hellenic Train issued a statement:

“During route 11352 from Patras to Kato Achaia, a Suburban Railway train, while approaching Paralia station, collided with a vehicle attempting to cross a level crossing where the protective barriers were raised.”

Full Statement:
Hellenic Train informs the public that during route 11352 from Patras to Kato Achaia, a Suburban Railway train collided with a passing vehicle at a level crossing with raised safety barriers near Paralia station.

It was clarified that a prior indication led the train driver to halt the train temporarily for immediate repairs. This brief stop disrupted the timing sensor system that controls the barriers’ operation.

Upon noticing the situation, the train engineer reduced speed and continuously sounded the warning horn, adhering strictly to traffic regulations.

Police and ambulance services promptly arrived on the scene. The vehicle’s driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, and the five train passengers were unharmed. The scheduled route was cancelled, and subsequent routes 11354 and 11355 were replaced by buses.