Tragedy struck just outside the capital of Chile when a freight train collided head-on with another train during a test run, resulting in the deaths of two rail workers and injuries to nine others. The collision occurred in San Bernardo, a district south of Santiago, leaving a scene of devastation with one carriage jackknifed several meters into the air above a mangled cargo train.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, with the driver of the test train and a railway operator detained for questioning on charges of reckless manslaughter. The state rail company reported that the freight train, carrying 1,346 tons of copper, collided with the test train, which had 10 workers on board conducting a speed test.
Security camera footage revealed that both trains were traveling at high speeds at the time of impact. The collision resulted in the deaths of two crew members on the freight train, while nine others, including four Chinese nationals operating the test train, sustained injuries. Six individuals remain hospitalized, with one in intensive care.
Despite recent heavy rains causing floods in Chile, it is unclear whether weather conditions played a role in the collision. Train crashes are rare in Chile, with the government implementing safety measures following a fatal incident in 2001. While the country has not experienced a fatal crash since then, several derailments and accidents have occurred over the past two decades, injuring numerous individuals.
