Train collision in Czech Republic leaves at least 4 dead, 27 injured

• A passenger train collided with a freight train in Pardubice, Czech Republic, causing at least four deaths and 27 injuries.
• The train, owned by RegioJet, was heading for Kosice, eastern Slovakia, and Chop, Ukraine.
• The crash resulted in at least two Ukrainian women’s deaths.

Officials said Thursday that a passenger train collided head-on with a freight train in the Czech Republic, resulting in at least four deaths and injuries to 27 others.

Interior Minister Vít Rakušan reported that the crash occurred late Wednesday night in the city of Pardubice, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of Prague. The high-speed passenger train was owned by the private RegioJet company.

Rakušan stated that none of the injured were in life-threatening condition.

Rescuers reported that 380 passengers were on board the train, which was heading for the city of Kosice in eastern Slovakia and further to Chop across the border in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that at least two Ukrainian women died in the crash.

“An official of the Consulate of Ukraine in (the Czech city of) Brno is at the scene and in constant contact with rescue and law enforcement agencies,” it said.

The local CTK news agency reported that the drivers of both trains survived.

Transport Minister Martin Kupka announced that the main track between Prague and the eastern part of the country had to be closed while authorities investigated the collision. It was only partially reopened nine hours later, and the state-run train company, Czech Railways, advised passengers to avoid using the route for the entire day.

The corridor in Pardubice, where the trains collided, is vital for Czech Railways.

Martin Drápal, a spokesperson for a state agency that investigates train crashes, stated that the driver of the train carrying passengers failed to halt the train at a stop sign. He mentioned that it was not immediately clear if human error or a technical problem caused the failure.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala termed the crash a significant tragedy and extended his condolences to the families of those killed. Radim Jančura, the owner of RegioJet, also expressed his condolences and stated that his company was prepared to compensate the passengers.

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