A tragic accident occurred yesterday afternoon in the Bjerndrup area of South Jutland (Sønderjylland), when a passenger train belonging to the Danish Railways Company (DSB) collided with a fertilizer truck, causing carriages to derail and one of them to fall into a nearby field.
Watch the video: Passengers talk about children covered in mud and blood | Short video
According to police and local media, the accident resulted in the death of a 60-year-old woman, while 27 others were injured, including five who are in serious condition and two who remain in critical condition. South Jutland Police (Syd- og Sønderjyllands Politi) confirmed that the train was carrying approximately 95 passengers at the time of the collision.
School students among the passengers
Among the passengers were a group of students from Sønderskov-Skolen school returning from Silkeborg. Sønderborg Municipality reported that 15 students were taken to Kolding Sygehus Hospital for medical examinations, while others received care at the scene. A psychological emergency unit was also activated to provide support to the students and their parents.
Train passengers described the terrifying moments they experienced. Among them was Jakob Ravn, who was in one of the carriages. He told TV2: “We suddenly heard a huge explosion. People were thrown from their seats, panels fell from the ceiling, and tables were smashed. When I got out of the carriage, I saw children covered in manure and with blood on their clothes.”.
Parents also spoke of their feelings of anxiety. Ricky Sørensen, the father of one of the students who was on the train, wrote in a Facebook post, as reported by tvSyd: “After a lovely school trip, the train collided with a fertilizer truck and overturned on its side. Our daughter is fine, but the experience was very difficult.”.
Dozens of ambulances and medical helicopters headed to the scene of the accident.
Danish authorities dispatched dozens of ambulances and medical helicopters to the scene of the accident, while the Accident Investigation Commission (Havarikommissionen) confirmed that its work would focus on technical and safety aspects and that final results could take up to a year.
Statement from the government agency responsible for railway infrastructure in Denmark
Banedanmark, the government agency responsible for railway infrastructure in Denmark, explained that the crossing where the accident occurred was only equipped with lights and whistles, and that the plan to install barriers would not be implemented before 2027, which raised questions about the safety of the country's railway network.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's comment
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the incident as “a tragedy that should not happen in Denmark,” while Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen stressed that he had asked the Danish Railways Authority (Banedanmark) for a full report on safety procedures at crossings without barriers.
