Investigation underway in tragic train accident

Investigations are continuing into Friday’s train accident near the city of Ostrava which caused seven deaths and multiple injuries. Overnight, the Czech police asked for a suspension of the cleanup operation in order to conduct forensic tests designed to help determine why an overhead bridge fell onto the tracks, causing an ill-fated train to crash into the debris. At present, most of the wagons involved in the accident have been removed from the tracks – the only exceptions are the wagons directly underneath the fallen bridge. The latest information suggests that the overhead bridge was being prepared for significant reconstruction work. A key factor for investigators is to determine whether human error played a part in the accident. Meanwhile, transport authorities believe that services along the second adjacent track could resume as early as Sunday. Meanwhile 33 people remain in hospital following the accident.

Author: Dominik Jůn