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USA, Canada, Spain, now Italy. Is this some sort of uncanny accident season in Europe?
July 29, 2013
Two passenger trains collided in Switzerland early Monday evening, leaving dozens injured. Local media reported that 44 people are among the wounded, four of whom are in serious condition. Train services in the area have been halted.
The accident occurred in the municipality of Granges-Marnard, near the city of Lausanne, in the western French-speaking region of the country. The trains crashed approximately 100 meters away from a rail station, as one headed towards Lausanne, according to local commuter newspaper 20 Minutes.
“Many passengers were injured and were taken care of by rescue services,” one witness told the paper.
Swiss television newscast SF1 reported the high casualty numbers, adding that the incident happened at approximately 7pm local time.
Firefighters, ambulances, helicopters, and police are on site.
The French RER train service has temporarily halted transportation between the two western municipalities of Moudon and Payerne, between which the crash took place. A replacement bus service has been established. The distance between the two areas spans just over 20 kilometers.