One man has died and another is fighting for life after a driver swerved around a boom gate and into the path of a coal train in north Queensland.
Police issued a warning to drivers about level crossing safety after the Toyota LandCruiser and train collided in Bowen about 9pm on Tuesday.
The vehicle's passenger, a 50-year-old from Townsville, died at the scene while the 40-year-old driver was flown to Mackay Base Hospital with critical head injuries.
The train's two drivers were not injured.
"The driver's decision to enter into a rail crossing that was governed by a boom gate and warning lights - which is obviously an offence in itself - have contributed towards the circumstances," Inspector Jeremy Novosel told reporters on Wednesday.
"Those warning lights and boom gates are there for a reason.
"People should adhere to those the warning signals that we have because they are there to prevent any loss of life and circumstances such as this."
Insp Novosel said it appeared the driver had swerved around the boom gate seconds before the crash.
Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with CCTV or dashcam vision to come forward.
It was the second fatal incident on Queensland roads overnight after a 77-year-old man died in a single-vehicle accident at Freestone on the Southern Downs.
© AAP 2023