Truck carrying thirty tonnes of bacon smashes into train

Witnesses reported seeing strips of bacon strewn across the crash site

Passengers have spoken of their horror after a truck carrying 31 tonnes of bacon ploughed into a train in Illinois.

The collision took place at a crossing in Wilmington, Illinois, as an Amtrak train made its way to Chicago.

It is understood that the bacon truck was positioned on the track, causing the vehicle to split in half and overturn as the train collided with it.

None of the train carriages derailed and were left largely intact after the high speed crash.

Witnesses reported seeing strips of bacon strewn across the crash site. It is believed that the truck contained 31 tonnes, or 70,000 pounds, of the meat.

10 ambulances were called to the scene but, amazingly, none of the 203 passengers are understood to have been injured.

Passenger Sam Herwitz told NBC Chicago that he saw the driver of the trailer walk away from the crash: “There’s boxes everywhere. But somehow the driver was OK. The truck that hit the train is in pieces.”

Authorities are investigating the scene. It is not yet known why the truck was on the railway lines when the collision took place.