Two rail workers were killed and nine others injured in a rare fatal crash in Chile when a freight train collided head-on with another train on a test run just outside the capital. Authorities were investigating the cause of the collision, which left the test car on top of the freight train. The driver of the test train and a railway operator were detained for interrogation on charges of reckless manslaughter. Photos and videos of the scene showed a badly mangled cargo train with one carriage jackknifed several meters into the air.
The eight-car freight train was carrying 1,346 tons of copper, Chile’s main export, and had people on board. The other train had 10 workers on board operating a speed test. Security camera footage showed both trains traveling at high speed when they collided. The cause of the collision was not immediately clear, and authorities were working to identify the reasons and take appropriate measures. The two people killed were crew members on the freight train, and nine others were injured, including four Chinese nationals operating the test train.
In recent days, heavy rains had caused floods in Chile, submerging hundreds of houses and displacing thousands of people. However, the downpour did not seem to have contributed to the train collision. Train crashes are rare in Chile, with the government significantly boosting safety awareness since a 2001 collision involving a passenger train and a bus that killed 20 people. Although there have been four derailments and other crashes in the last two decades that have injured dozens, the country had not experienced a fatal crash until this recent incident.
The crash resulted in the suspension of train service in Santiago, the capital of Chile. Authorities were working to determine the cause of the collision, with Transportation Minister Juan Carlos Muñoz stating that identifying the causes and taking necessary measures was a priority. Six people remained hospitalized, including one in intensive care. Emergency vehicles responded to the scene, with helicopters buzzing overhead to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts.
The collision occurred in San Bernardo, a district just south of Santiago. The scene was chaotic, with a tangle of crushed metal from the mangled trains. Trains service in Santiago was suspended following the crash as authorities worked to clear the wreckage and investigate the incident. The collision was a tragic event in Chile, where train crashes are uncommon but have resulted in injuries and fatalities in the past. The government was focused on identifying the causes of the collision and implementing measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
