A Puerto Rican visitor to Spain described the anguish he experienced at Madrid’s Atocha station as he prepared to take a train toward Sevilla, the route where a deadly rail accident occurred. Jan García had planned to leave at nine in the morning, but shortly afterward he heard that service had been suspended. The crash happened near Urda, in Toledo, when one train struck another that was stopped on the tracks.
The tragedy leaves at least 68 dead and 77 people hospitalized, 15 of them in very serious condition. García acknowledged that he does not want to imagine what would have happened if he had traveled earlier. Spanish authorities are investigating a failure in the rail safety system and the order to resume service.
While rescue work continues, the Puerto Rican described his reaction upon learning the scale of the tragedy. The Spanish government has promised to investigate the causes of the accident and determine whether there was negligence.