The malicious act trail is favored in the investigation into the derailment of a TER on Friday evening in Normandy in which 44 people were injured, a piece of rail having been found on the track, AFP learned on Saturday from a police source.
The derailment of the TER which was carrying 186 passengers took place between Tourville and Elbeuf-Saint-Aubin, near the town of Cléon (Seine-Maritime) on Friday around 7:45 p.m. A total of 44 people were injured, including a young woman evacuated “in absolute emergency” and significant emergency resources were mobilized with 130 firefighters, five medical teams and 80 vehicles.
Alcohol and drug tests on the train driver were all negative, said Rouen prosecutor Sébastien Gallois.
Passengers describe shaking
Passengers present testified to the violence of the accident: “Suddenly came a few shocks, then after three seconds, it became stronger and stronger,” one of the passengers, Louis, aged 24, testified to ICI Normandie radio. “I could no longer hold my seat (…) The windows partially exploded, the stones from the track entered the carriage,” he said. “It was really shocking, I’m still shaking.”
Interrupted following the accident, traffic was restored this Saturday, said an SNCF spokesperson.
