EL FAHS, Tunisia — A Tunisian passenger train smashed into a semi-trailer truck racing to cross the tracks early Tuesday morning, killing 18 people as two carriages derailed.
At least 86 people were injured when the speeding train hit the truck at 6:30 a.m. outside the town of Fahs, 60 kilometers (37 miles) southwest of the capital, Tunis, authorities said.
Local media had initially reported the truck driver was among the dead, but Lt. Col. Selmi Yousfi said he escaped when he saw the train barreling toward him at about 130 kph (80 mph), and later surrendered.
Some of the passengers were ejected upon impact, said Mongi Kadhi, an official with emergency services. The train engineer was among those who died.