One individual has lost their life following a collision of two cargo trains on a railway overpass in Germany, as confirmed by authorities.
The incident took place overnight in the northern part of Munich, specifically in Milbertshofen, leading to two train cars falling off the bridge onto the street below. Emergency responders were alerted at 1:40 am CEST (12:40 am BST) on Saturday, prompting the dispatch of approximately 60 personnel to the location, according to a fire service representative.
Reportedly, the carriages dropped about 16 feet from the bridge, with Munich police closing the street beneath the overpass and advising drivers to steer clear of the area during the ongoing recovery and cleanup operations.
The exact cause of the crash remains unknown at this time.
Fortunately, the derailed train cars were empty, posing no risk to public safety, as stated by the German news agency dpa. The identity of the victim has not been disclosed to the public, and no other injuries were reported in connection with the accident.
Schleissheimer Strasse was shut down in both directions following the collision, as per a report from Bild newspaper. A police spokesperson mentioned that the recovery efforts would extend into Saturday and possibly even Sunday.
The incident did not impact passenger train services, as the affected railway line is exclusive to freight trains, according to a representative from Germany’s national railway company, Deutsche Bahn.
This event occurred less than eight hours after a deadly train crash in England, where two passenger trains collided near Bedford on Friday evening, resulting in the death of the train driver and hospitalization of 28 individuals.
During a press briefing near the crash site on Saturday, Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi of the British Transport Police conveyed her condolences, mentioning that the driver’s family is receiving support from trained officers during this challenging period. Over 80 individuals received medical treatment following the incident, with 28 still hospitalized, including nine in critical condition.
Paul Gates, a strategic commander at the East of England Ambulance Service, added that 11 individuals sustained severe injuries, while 32 others suffered serious injuries.