Train Crash: Moderate to Serious Injuries Sustained by Nine People

Jablonov nad Turnou, 13 October (TASR) - Nine people sustained moderate to serious injuries in the collision between two express trains near the village of Jablonov nad Turnou in Roznava district (Kosice region), with at least 20 others suffering minor injuries, spokesperson for the Emergency Medical Services Operations Centre Petra Klimesova told TASR on Monday afternoon. "Seven ground ambulances and three rescue helicopters are currently operating at the scene of the head-on train collision, with two evacuation buses also on site," added Klimesova, noting that rescue operations are still ongoing. The collision between the two express trains, the R 913 and the R 914 Gemeran, took place shortly after 10 a.m. near a tunnel in the vicinity of the village of Jablonov nad Turnou, at a point where tracks intersect and merge into a single track. Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said earlier that around 100 people sustained minor injuries and two are in critical condition. Three people remain trapped, with no information yet available about their condition, said the minister. The cause of the collision is under investigation. However, according to the minister, it was apparently caused by human error. One of the train drivers was given a breath test at the scene and was also tested for narcotics and psychotropic substances, with both tests showing negative results. "The other driver, due to the extent of his injuries, was airlifted to hospital, where biological samples will be taken to determine the presence of alcohol or drugs," the Kosice Region Police Directorate stated on social media. jrg/df