About 4.05am (Wednesday 20 October 2021), emergency services attended the train line on West Dapto Road at Kembla Grange, after reports of a train and vehicle crash.
Police have been told the four-carriage train struck an unoccupied vehicle that was on the track, before the front carriage of the train rolled onto its side.
The 12 occupants of the train were extracted, and three people were taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Officers from Lake Illawarra Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Subsequent inquiries have revealed the vehicle was stolen earlier today from a home at Flinders.
Police are investigating how the vehicle came to be abandoned on the train line. Witnesses have told police a male was seen running from the area soon after.
Anyone who may have information, dashcam footage or CCTV are urged to contact Lake Illawarra Police Station on (02) 4232 5599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
