Train crash in Czech Republic kills seven passengers

Seven passengers have died in the Czech Republic, when an international express train ran into a damaged bridge. An additional 70 other passengers sustained injuries and were transported to a local medical facility. The international train was on route from Krakow (Poland) to Prague and according to a BBC report, was travelling at approximately 140km per hour, at the time of the crash. The accident itself occurred near the Czech town of Studenka and at the time, around 400 passengers were travelling aboard the train.

As a clear indication of the gravity of this accident, the Czech Republic’s Prime Minister, Mirek Topolanek, actually visited the scene of the accident, as did the Polish head of government. Most regional experts point out that this was likely the most serious Czech railway disaster in well over a decade.

According to eyewitness reports, a bridge above the tracks was under construction at the time of the accident, and it ended up collapsing and falling onto the train below, just as it tried to pass. The driver’s decision to halt the train suddenly, as parts of the bridge began to fall, led to the derailment of several carriages.

Five of the dead were Czechs, while a Polish and a Ukrainian passenger also died in the accident.

 www.cd.cz