French train driver killed in army pontoon truck crash

A French high-speed train has collided with a truck carrying military equipment at a level crossing near Calais, killing the train driver, the local prefecture and railway operators say.

Sixteen people were injured and two of them were in critical condition, the prefecture said.

More than 200 passengers were on the train at the time of the crash and the truck was carrying a military pontoon, it said.

The train was travelling from Dunkirk to Paris when the incident occurred about 7am near the town of Bully-les-Mines, railway operator SNCF said in a separate statement.

Local prosecutor Etienne Thieffry said the police had started an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter and were holding the civilian truck driver in custody for questioning.

SNCF said traffic had been interrupted on the line and the prefecture said it would remain closed until further notice.