A one-year-old girl has died after being hit by a freight train in the NSW town of Baan Baa, north-west of Tamworth.
The child was playing at a railway crossing at 7.50pm yesterday when the accident occurred.
Paramedics treated the child at the scene before transporting her to Narrabri Hospital, where she later died of her injuries.
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NSW Police Superintendent David Cooper said the railway crossing's boom gates and lights had activated as the train approached.
"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," Cooper said.
"This is a really tragic case of child who had just gone to play in a bad location.
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"Our heartful condolences goes out to the family."
The 22-year-old train driver was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
"That's a legislative requirement, there's no suggestion at all that the train driver had any negligence, it is just part of the process that has to be undertaken," Cooper said.
"There is no suggestion that any charges will be laid.
"I feel for that young man as well."
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A crime scene has been established as police investigate the circumstances of the crash.
Cooper described the situation as an "absolute tragedy" which would have an impact on the family and broader community, including several people who witnessed the accident from a nearby commercial premises.
"We're going to be wrapping our support around the family and everyone in attendance," Cooper said.
Narrabri Shire Council mayor Darrell Tiemens said the incident was "devastating" for the "beautiful people" of Baan Baa, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
"Our hearts go out to the family of the little girl," he said.
"This devastating event has deeply affected our close-knit community, and our thoughts are with the young train driver, the emergency service workers and the hospital staff who responded under such heartbreaking circumstances.
"For these frontline workers, it's hard enough dealing with an adult fatality, but dealing with a young child when many of these people are parents themselves, is so difficult."
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