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Two regional trains crash in Bavaria, killing 8 and injuring 150 Two regional trains crash in Bavaria, killing 9 and injuring 150
(about 2 hours later)
BERLIN — At least eight people died and some 150 were injured, some very seriously, in a head-on collision of two morning passenger trains Tuesday in the southern German state of Bavaria, police said. BERLIN — Two passenger trains in southern Germany slammed head-on at a “very high speed” Tuesday, killing at least nine people and injuring about 150 others on a curved section of track that likely hid the oncoming train until the last moment.
Four hours after the collision, German police announced that all survivors had been rescued and taken to hospitals for treatment, according to news reports. At least two data recorders had been recovered amid the tangle of crumpled cars, possibly giving investigators clues over how the trains ended up traveling on the single track in opposite directions.
Hundreds of rescue workers worked hours to reach injured passengers trapped in the wreckage of the crash, which caused several rail cars to come off the track in a densely-wooded area. German transportation Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the trains “must have collided with very high speed” on a section of rail where the maximum possible speed is about 60 mph.
Fifteen people were “very heavily injured,” police spokeswoman Barbara Strassberger said. About 40 were “heavily injured.” He said the conductors probably did not see the other train until seconds before the crash on the curving stretch of track in Bad Aibling, close to Germany’s southeastern border with Austria, about 40 miles southeast of Munich.
It was not immediately clear what caused the 6:48 a.m. crash of the two regional trains at Bad Aibling, close to Germany’s southeastern border with Austria, about 40 miles southeast of Munich. It was the biggest crash in the region in years, police said. “The one train virtually bored itself head-on into the other and completely tore apart the cabin of the second train,” Dobrindt told reporters near the crash site — one of the worst rail accidents in the country since a 2011 crash in east-central Germany left 10 people dead.
Helicopters, ambulances and several hundred rescue workers quickly swarmed the chaotic scene. Streets in the area were closed. Rescue helicopters from Austria were also involved in the rescue effort. Transport officials also are looking into possible flaws in an automatic braking system installed on German trains after the 2011 crash.
Initial, unconfirmed reports said both trains left stations traveling on the same track headed toward each other. Investigations into the crash began immediately alongside the rescue effort, police said. On Tuesday, at least 15 people were “very heavily injured,” police spokeswoman Barbara Strassberger said. About 40 were “heavily injured.”
A spokesman for the German Federal Police in Bavaria told the Associated Press the crash took place “in an inaccessible region,” which made it extremely difficult for rescue workers to reach injured passengers. A spokesman for the German Federal Police in Bavaria told the Associated Press the crash took place “in an inaccessible region,” which made it difficult for rescue workers to reach the site.
Police will hold a news conference on the crash at 12.00 local time (1100 GMT).
Meridian, which operated the trains, is part of the Transdev group. German railways operator Deutsche Bahn is responsible for the track.Meridian, which operated the trains, is part of the Transdev group. German railways operator Deutsche Bahn is responsible for the track.
Deane reported from London. Deane reported from London. Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.
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