Derailment of a TER between Rouen and Caen: what we know about the accident which left 44 injured

A total of 44 people were injured, including a young woman initially evacuated "in absolute emergency" in the derailment Friday evening of a TER which transported 186 passengers between Rouen and Caen, according to the prefecture of Seine-Maritime and the prosecution. Significant relief resources have been mobilized. Here's what we know.

What happened?

The accident occurred on Friday around 7:45 p.m. The regional train which goes from Rouen to Caen was traveling at 140 km/h when it hit a metal object which was on the tracks. The train then derailed between Tourville and Elbeuf-Saint-Aubin, near the town of Cléon (Seine-Maritime). “All of a sudden there came a few shocks, then after three seconds, it became stronger and stronger,” one of the passengers, Louis, aged 24, testified to ICI Normandie. “I could no longer hold my seat (...) The windows partially exploded, the stones from the track entered the carriage,” he said. “It was really shocking, I’m still shaking.”

What human toll?

An 18-year-old passenger was “evacuated in absolute emergency” by helicopter to the Rouen University Hospital. This Saturday, the Rouen prosecutor, Sébastien Gallois, indicates that his days are no longer in danger. At the same time, 43 other people were treated “in relative urgency”. This Saturday noon, they were all taken care of and cared for. “Their release from hospital has taken place, or is imminent,” adds the magistrate.

As soon as the accident was announced, the prefect of Seine-Maritime, Jean-Benoît Albertini, triggered the Orsec numerous victims plan (NOVI) and went to the site. Significant emergency resources were mobilized with 130 firefighters, five medical teams and 80 vehicles.

What cause?

The Rouen judicial police were investigated. According to the first elements of the investigation, a piece of rail was placed on the track. The preferred hypothesis is that of a malicious act. “The investigation will be long,” initially warned the deputy prosecutor, Marie-Valérie Albert. “The main hypothesis is that of the presence - on one of the rails of the track - of a piece of rail, which could be the cause of this derailment. The causes of this presence are unknown, and will have to be identified by the investigation,” said prosecutor Sébastien Gallois this Saturday noon.

The SNCF stressed that it would provide “all its support in complete transparency” to the investigation. The train driver tested negative in police tests, the prosecutor said.

Severe disruptions on the network

The accident caused “major disruptions” to rail traffic between Rouen and Caen and between Caen and Le Havre, in both directions, according to SNCF. “A replacement bus service will be put in place. SNCF agents are on site to determine the circumstances of the incident,” said SNCF Voyageurs. At Saint-Lazare station in Paris, four trains from Le Havre and Rouen were announced 2h40 to 3h late.