Dozens injured in train crash in the Netherlands, one killed

A passenger train traveling from The Hague to the city of Leiden in the Netherlands derailed after colliding with a construction crane.

There were about 50 people in it. One passenger died, dozens were injured of varying severity, 19 people were hospitalized. The rest received medical attention on the spot, according to the Dutch public broadcaster. NOS. The incident happened at around 3:30 in the morning.

The ANP agency writes that the first car of the train derailed and crashed into the ground, the second fell on its side, and a fire broke out in the third car.

The passenger train was heading from The Hague to the city of Leiden, a collision with a crane standing on the tracks occurred near the city of Vorschoten, in the northern suburbs of The Hague. In the same place, a freight train collided with construction equipment. How these errors could have occurred is not yet clear.

An eyewitness to the train crash recalls:

“I heard a loud bang and then the lights went out.”

Carola Belderbos, a spokesman for Dutch Railways, said the train collided with a crane and confirmed that the driver and two conductors were among the injured.

Prorail’s Jeroen Wenen, who is in charge of rail maintenance, said the company has also launched an investigation – in addition to an investigation that is ongoing by the police and the Dutch security service anyway. He says, writes Air Force:

“This is a very, very rare accident, but it is a terrible accident. We at Prorail are conducting an initial investigation to understand how this happened and how we can avoid similar accidents in the future. We are very upset.”

Dutch Railways (NS) announced on Twitter that the accident has suspended service between Leiden and The Hague.