Czech Republic rail officials say a passenger train crashed into a freight train near Prague late Tuesday, killing one driver and injuring dozens of passengers.
The Czech Rail Safety Inspectorate said Wednesday the driver of the passenger train died in the crash near the Cesky Brod station 34 kilometers east of Prague.
The inspectorate said the passenger train with about 100 passengers on board smashed into the standing freight train.
The regional rescue service said up to 35 passengers were injured. Some were transported by helicopter to hospitals for treatment. Medical personnel worked through the night to rescue injured passengers from the wreckage.
One firefighter at the scene said the train was tilted on a slope, making it difficult to reach. Workers tied chains to a train car to keep it upright.
It was the country’s second fatal train accident in just over a week. On July 7, a train collision killed two people and injured 24 in northwest Czech Republic, near the border with Germany.
Czech Industry, Trade and Transport Minister Karel Havlicek spoke with reporters at the scene early Wednesday. The Czech news agency CTK reports Havlicek insisted the accidents were the result of driver errors and not systematic errors. CTK reports the minister is establishing a new Railway Safety Commission and said he would address railway personnel issues.
Officials said the track linking Prague with the eastern part of the country was expected to reopen Wednesday.
