On Wednesday morning, January 24, 2024, in the eastern Czech Republic, a fast train collided with a truck, resulting in the death of the train’s driver and injuries to 19 people.
The crash took place near Bohumin, in the Moravian-Silesian Region, affecting a major rail line towards Prague.
The collision happened at a level crossing, an intersection where a railway and road meet at the same level. This detail was confirmed by Czech Railways, which also reported the train driver’s fatality in the accident.
The Czech News Agency reported that the truck, carrying a construction machine, reportedly got stuck on the level crossing and could not continue.
The 19 injured people were quickly taken to nearby hospitals. None of the injuries were life-threatening, according to hospital reports.
The train had 60 passengers at the time of the accident. The collision occurred in the early hours, a time usually associated with high commuter traffic, as the train was heading to the Czech capital, Prague.
Czech authorities have initiated an investigation to find out the cause of the accident. Following the incident, the rail line was closed for a day, reflecting the severity of the crash.
Emergency services, including police and railway inspectorate staff, were seen responding at the crash site in Dolni Lutyne near Karvina. This area, known for significant cross-border traffic due to its proximity to the Czech-Polish border, is now the focus of a major transportation safety investigation.
Such railway accidents are infrequent in the Czech Republic, which boasts a robust rail network vital for both passenger and freight transport. The Czech Railways, recognized for their strong safety record, face new scrutiny following this incident, particularly over safety measures at level crossings.
However, the history of train derailments and collisions in the Czech Republic includes several notable incidents over the years:
Milavče Train Crash (2021): A severe collision occurred near Milavče involving an express train and a passenger train. The express train did not halt at a signal, resulting in a direct collision with the passenger train. This collision caused extensive damage to both trains and led to a significant number of injuries and fatalities.
Within nine days in 2020, five separate train incidents were reported across the Czech Republic. These incidents ranged from collisions between trains to derailments. Human error was cited as a significant factor in most of these accidents. The accidents highlighted issues with rail safety and prompted discussions about improving security and training for train drivers.
Train Collision near Domazlice (2021): In this incident, an international high-speed train collided with a commuter passenger train near Domazlice, resulting in fatalities and over 50 injuries. The crash was attributed to the Munich-to-Prague express train running through a stop signal.
2015 Studénka Train Crash: A high-speed train collided with a truck at a railway crossing in Studénka, causing fatalities and injuries. The train driver managed to reduce the speed at the moment of impact, but the collision still resulted in significant damage and casualties. The truck driver was later sentenced to prison for public endangerment.