Train derails in Bavaria – at least three people dead

The cause is still unclear: a regional train derailed in Bavaria. At least three people are said to be dead, the police speak of many injured.

According to information from t-online, at least three people died in a train accident in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Upper Bavaria, on Friday. There is “an undetermined number” of injuries, said a spokeswoman for the Oberbayern Süd police. A spokesman for the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district office spoke of 60 injuries, including 16 seriously injured.

The regional train was on its way to Munich around noon. It cannot be ruled out that many students were on the train at the beginning of the holidays. According to a spokesman for the federal police, the train was probably derailed – why was initially unclear.

Three wagons overturned. “People are being pulled through the windows,” said the federal police spokesman. The accident happened around 12:15 p.m. in the Burgrain district of Loisachauen. “All age groups” were among the injured.

Fire brigade, emergency doctors and police were on site with a large contingent. “A full alarm was triggered for the fire brigade and rescue service,” said a spokesman for the integrated control center in the Oberland. According to a spokesman for ADAC air rescue, six rescue helicopters were deployed, three from ADAC and three from Austria.

The press spokesman for the police headquarters in Upper Bavaria South, Stefan Sonntag, said calls had been received from citizens that a train had derailed. The first slightly injured were recovered. They would be collected in a nearby building. Relatives are also on site. The “Bild” newspaper reported first.

“It was terrible”

An American soldier was in one of the cars on the street next to the railway line and told the “Garmisch-Partenkirchner Tagblatt” his impressions: “It was terrible,” he said. “Just terrible. Suddenly the train overturned.”

See the first images from the scene of the accident in the video above or here.

The accident happened around 12:15 p.m. in the Burgrain district of Loisachauen. According to the police, the train was traveling from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Munich.

The train blocked the route between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Oberau. Trains from Munich turn early in Oberau. From the Mittenwald direction, the trains turn early in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Replacement traffic is being planned, it said on Twitter.

Bahn expresses condolences to relatives

After the train accident, Deutsche Bahn expressed its deepest sympathy to the relatives. The federal company said in Berlin that emergency services and DB employees were at the scene of the accident. No statement can yet be made about the cause of the accident on Friday afternoon.

For the region on the border with Austria, the accident just before the holidays is also a disaster in terms of traffic. The federal highways 2 and 23, which run close to the railway lines, were completely closed. “We can’t let the traffic flow in the direction of Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the moment because the rescue workers are on the road,” said a police spokesman. Because of the beginning of the Pentecost holidays in Bavaria, long traffic jams are to be expected on the route.