8 Injured After Trains Collide in Austria

This Handout photo made available by the Lower Austrian Fire Department shows members of the emergency services working at the scene when two passenger trains collided causing several carriages to derail in Kritzendorf, Lower Austria on December 22, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / APA AND LOWER AUSTRIAN FIRE DEPARTMENT / – / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / APA / LOWER AUSTRIAN FIRE DEPARTMENT” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS NO SALES AUSTRIA OUT

Two regional trains collided late Friday near Vienna, knocking two carriages over and hurting eight people, none of them seriously, officials said.

The accident occurred at 1700 GMT near the station of Kritzendorf, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) north-west of Vienna.

Four people sustained moderate injuries and four others light wounds, said Infrastructure Minister Norbert Hofer.

One person airlifted to hospital with head injuries but was conscious.

“We believe that the cause was likely human error, not a technical fault. But this will be investigated in the coming days,” Hofer said.

Both trains were emptied of people by 1830 GMT.

SOURCE: AFP