This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/german-authorities-none-missing-from-deadly-train-crash/2016/02/10/d81600d4-cfd0-11e5-90d3-34c2c42653ac_story.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Germany: No one missing in deadly train crash; cause sought Train wreckage being removed in Germany; answers sought
(about 2 hours later)
BAD AIBLING, Germany — Emergency workers on Wednesday started removing the wreckage from the head-on train crash that killed 10 people and injured dozens in southern Germany, after police said they are no longer looking for another victim. BAD AIBLING, Germany — Emergency workers in southern Germany brought in a huge crane Wednesday to start removing the wreckage from a deadly head-on train crash after police said they were no longer looking for another victim.
Police spokesman Stefan Sonntag said authorities came to the conclusion that no one was unaccounted-for after contacting all hospitals in the rural region. Police spokesman Stefan Sonntag said authorities came to the conclusion that no one was unaccounted-for in the crash that killed 10 people and injured dozens after they contacted all hospitals in the rural region in Bavaria.
Authorities are trying to determine why multiple safety measures failed, allowing two trains to travel on the same single-line track and smash into each other in Bad Aibling in Bavaria on Tuesday morning. They are considering both possible technical errors and human failure. Authorities are trying to determine why multiple safety measures failed Tuesday morning, allowing two trains to travel on the same single-line track and smash into each other. They are considering possible technical errors, human failure or a combination of the two scenarios. Both Germany’s train accident investigation office and local prosecutors are investigating.
At the scene, 40 miles (60 kilometers) southeast of Munich, a huge crane was brought in Wednesday to start moving away the wreckage from the tracks — a job the German news agency dpa reported would take two days. About 100 emergency workers are helping with the removal. The governor of Bavaria, Horst Seehofer, visited the crash scene in Bad Aibling, 40 miles (60 kilometers) southeast of Munich. He held a short memorial ceremony with rescue workers, who laid wreaths of white-and-red flowers next to the wrecked trains.
On the investigation front, the German transport ministry said both the government’s train accident investigation office and local prosecutors are looking into the cause of the crash. “This is a horrible tragedy for all of Bavaria,” Seehofer told reporters Wednesday. “We are praying and hope that the injured will recover.”
“All possibilities that might have led to this tragedy are being investigated,” said Vera Moosmayer, a spokeswoman for the Transport Ministry. “They are looking at the black boxes, they are examining what happened on the tracks, they are speaking to the witnesses and the train dispatchers. They are trying to paint a picture of what might have led to the tragedy.” The governor also visited survivors in a nearby hospital to hear their stories about the fatal accident and thanked the hundreds of emergency workers for their efforts.
Asked about third-party actions that might have led to the accident, she said, “I can only say there are no indications of this yet, but the investigation is still ongoing.” Seehofer said he will wait for the results of the investigations to see “which consequences have to be taken to make this kind of tragedy even more unlikely to happen.”
Police spokesman Juergen Thalmeier warned reporters in Bad Aibling not to jump to early conclusions. While the train dispatcher had already been interrogated, that did not mean he was necessarily under suspicion. At the crash site, about 100 emergency workers were helping with the removal of the wreckage — a job that the German news agency dpa said would take at least two days.
German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt told German news channel n-tv that one black box has already been examined and that based on this analysis there seem to have been no technical problem, but that investigators have not yet finished their overall evaluation. Police said nine of the 10 dead had been identified and both train drivers were among them. Their names were not released but all were men between 24 and 60 years old. About 17 of the dozens injured were still in serious condition but all are expected to survive, dpa said.
Around 50 police officers are working on the case, dpa reported. Police spokesman Juergen Thalmeier warned reporters not to jump to conclusions. While the train dispatcher had been interrogated, he said that did not mean he was necessarily under suspicion.
The news agency also reported that all victims have been identified and that both train drivers were among the dead. The names of the victims were not released, but all of them were men aged between 24 and 60. “All possibilities that might have led to this tragedy are being investigated,” said Vera Moosmayer, a spokeswoman for the Transport Ministry. “They are looking at the black boxes. They are examining what happened on the tracks. They are speaking to the witnesses and the train dispatchers. They are trying to paint a picture of what might have led to the tragedy.”
Some 17 injured are still in serious condition, but all are expected to survive, dpa said. Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt told the German news channel n-tv that one black box has already been examined and based on this analysis there seems to have been no technical problem, but that investigators have not yet finished their overall evaluation.
Officials said it was not clear for how long the train line between Holzkirchen and Rosenheim would be out of commission. The operator, Bayerische Oberlandbahn, offered bus services for passengers instead. Officials said it was not clear how long the train line between Holzkirchen and Rosenheim would be out of commission. Bus services were offered instead.
The trains crashed on a stretch of track running between a river and a forest. Although the first rescue crews were on the scene in minutes Tuesday morning, it took hours for all survivors to be airlifted or shuttled by boat across the river to waiting ambulances. The two trains were supposed to pass one another at a station where the track was divided. Also, a safety system installed on much of Germany’s huge rail network was supposed to automatically brake trains that end up on the same track heading toward each other. Instead, the two trains slammed into one another on a curve.
The two trains were supposed to pass one another at a station where the track was divided, and a safety system installed on much of Germany’s labyrinthine rail network was supposed to automatically brake trains that end up on the same track heading toward each other, authorities said.
Instead, the two trains slammed into one another on a curve, meaning that their engineers wouldn’t have seen each other until it was too late.
German rail operator Deutsche Bahn said safety systems on the stretch where the crash occurred had been checked as recently as last week.German rail operator Deutsche Bahn said safety systems on the stretch where the crash occurred had been checked as recently as last week.
A joint memorial service by the Catholic and Lutheran churches is being planned but no specific date has been set yet.
______
Grieshaber reported from Berlin. Frank Jordans in Berlin also contributed.Grieshaber reported from Berlin. Frank Jordans in Berlin also contributed.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.