A tragic accident occurred near Barcelona on Saturday night, when a group of seven people were hit by a train as they tried to cross the tracks at an unauthorized point. Four of them died and three were seriously injured and taken to hospital. The incident happened between the stations of Parets del Valles and Granollers, on the R3 railway line.
The victims were heading to a music festival
According to local media reports, the group of victims were on their way to a music festival called Duro Festival, which was taking place near the scene of the accident. The festival featured heavy techno music and was held at an industrial estate close to the Circuit de Catalunya, a motorsport track. The group tried to cross the tracks at a curve with poor visibility, instead of using a natural pathway under the train track that leads to the station.
The train driver could not avoid the collision
The train that hit the group was a regional service that was heading from Barcelona to Puigcerda. The driver saw the people on the tracks but could not stop the train in time to avoid the collision. He alerted the emergency services and activated the brakes, but it was too late. The impact was so strong that three people died on the spot and a fourth one died later in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest. The other three survivors were hospitalized with serious injuries.
The police are investigating the cause of the accident
The Catalan police, Mossos d’Esquadra, have opened an investigation to determine the cause of the accident and identify the victims. They have not released any details about their age or nationality yet. They are also looking into whether the group had consumed alcohol or drugs before crossing the tracks. The police cordoned off the area and collected evidence from the scene.
The train services were suspended for several hours
The accident caused a disruption in the train services along part of the R3 line. The trains were suspended between Parets and Granollers-Canovelles for several hours, until around midnight. The passengers who were on board the train that hit the group were transferred to another train or buses to continue their journey. The railway company Renfe offered alternative transport options and apologized for the inconvenience.
The authorities expressed their condolences and support
The Catalan government’s representative in Madrid, Ester Capella, expressed her condolences to the families and friends of the deceased and her support to the emergency teams and services working in this difficult situation. She posted on Twitter: “My condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased and my support to the emergency teams and services working in this difficult situation.” The minister of Public Works and Transport of Catalonia, Raquel Sanchez, also shared her sympathy and solidarity with the victims. She tweeted: “A very sad night in Montmelo. My solidarity with all those affected by this terrible accident.”