Baan Baa, NSW — A 1-year-old girl was killed after being struck by a freight train in the small village of Baan Baa, near Narrabri, on November 7, according to the New South Wales Police Force. The tragedy has devastated the tight-knit local community, with police and local officials describing the incident as “heartbreaking.”
Emergency services were called to Baranbah Street around 7:50 p.m., following reports that a toddler had been hit by a train. Officers said the girl had been walking along the side of the road when she was “clipped by the train.”
Efforts to Save the Child
First responders treated the child for serious injuries at the scene before she was transported to Narrabri Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Authorities have confirmed that the toddler was accompanied by other children at the time of the accident, though the full circumstances remain under investigation.
“We can establish at this stage that the child was with a number of other children, but those circumstances are still under investigation,” said Oxley Police District Superintendent David Cooper, according to ABC News.
“The parents were not in the immediate vicinity, but we are aware of where the parents were, and the supervision of the child is not in doubt.”
Community in Shock
Superintendent Cooper described the incident as an “absolute tragedy” and expressed condolences to the family.
“This is nothing but an absolute tragedy and our heartfelt condolences go out to the family,” he said. “This will have a broad impact on the community, and we want to make sure everybody gets the support they need.”
He also expressed sympathy for the 22-year-old train driver, who was uninjured but taken to the hospital for mandatory testing.
“There is no suggestion at all that the train driver had any negligence, and I feel for that young man as well,” Cooper added.
Local Leaders Offer Support
Following the fatal accident, Narrabri Shire Council Mayor Darrell Tiemens said the loss had deeply affected the village of roughly 170 people, emphasizing the emotional toll on everyone who knew the young family.
“Our hearts go out, obviously, to the family of the little girl tragically lost … it’s a devastating event and really deeply affected our close-knit community of Baan Baa,” Tiemens said.
He added that the family had recently moved to the area and that such a tragedy is especially hard for small towns.
“If this happened in a suburb of Sydney it would be tough, but when it happens in a tiny village where everyone knows everyone, it’s really hard to take,” he said. “It’s an incredible community … they will rebuild, but at the moment it’s just a matter for us all getting over the shock.”
Investigation Ongoing
Police have launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident to determine the events leading up to the child’s death. Authorities are reviewing the train’s operational data, interviewing witnesses, and offering counseling support to the family and local residents.
Community members have left flowers and messages near the tracks, expressing solidarity and grief for the family whose life was changed in an instant.
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