South Australia Police have confirmed that two people died in the crash between a train and a car at a level crossing at Mallala, north of Adelaide, on Thursday afternoon.

Just after 8.30pm, police told a media conference that the deceased were the occupants in the car, which was a Ford four-wheel drive.

They were pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The vehicle has since been cleared from the track.

Police said investigations are being hampered because the collision point is under one of the train’s carriages.

The two train drivers were not injured in the accident, which occurred just after 3pm, south of the town that is about 60 kilometres north of Adelaide.

ABC reports that police said the two train drivers hit the emergency brakes upon impact, but the train took close to its full 1800-metre length to come to a standstill.

Emergency Services crews are at the scene of a serious crash, just south of Mallala, after a train collided with a car.
Mallala Road is closed. Major Crash Investigators are attending

— South Australia Police (@SAPoliceNews) February 27, 2020

Chief Inspector Shane Addison said it was not yet known how fast the train was travelling.

“That is all currently part of the investigation,” he said.

“I am aware that the train carries a video tape and has a data recorder, and all of that information is in the process of being collected as part of the investigation.”

Police have closed the main Mallala to Two Wells Road to all traffic.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation said it was a Pacific National freight train heading from Perth to Melbourne.

It said the crash happened at the Old Dublin Road level crossing, which has a stop sign rather than boom gates.

UPDATE – The train involved is a freight train, which was travelling from Perth to Melbourne. The collision occurring at the Old Dublin Road level crossing.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation has suspended all services that use this section. @9NewsAdel pic.twitter.com/UCo4QAD5V1

— Lucy Hinton (@LucyHinton_9) February 27, 2020

The crash comes a week after two people were killed in a train derailment at Wallan, north of Melbourne.

Police urged anyone who saw the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The freight train appears to have pushed the car along the tracks from the level crossing. Photo: ABC News

-with ABC