A tragedy struck Albias, in Tarn-et-Garonne, on Friday January 19, 2024 around 9 p.m. A 14-year-old girl from Haute-Garonne lost her life after being hit by a speeding train at the station, reports La Dépêche du Midi. The incident took place in front of shocked witnessesamong whom were friends of the victim.
In this small town located north of Montauban, the tragedy took place at the local SNCF station. The exact circumstances remain to be clarified, but according to initial information, the young girl was part of a group of passengers getting off a regional express train (TER) linking Toulouse to Cahors. The particularity of this station is that travelers must cross the tracks on foot to reach the building, unlike large urban stations.
A judicial investigation has been opened
A first group of travelers managed to cross safely, but an incident occurred when, moments later, an Intercités train linking Paris to Toulouse was preparing to pass without stopping. Despite normal operation of the safety device, made up of sound and light warning devices according to the SNCF, the young girl apparently did not have time to cross before the train arrived. L’Intercités in motion could not stop several hundred meters from the scene of impact, condemning the young girl.
When emergency services arrived, they unfortunately recorded the death of the 14 year old girl. During the emergency response, train traffic was interrupted in both directions, affecting approximately 200 travelers present on the train involved. A judicial investigation has been opened to establish the precise circumstances of this tragedy, under the supervision of the Montauban public prosecutor. The SNCF expressed its emotion and offered his condolences to the victim’s family as well as the mayor of Albias.
Similar facts took place in the department of Tarn-et-Garonne in November 2019, reported One hundred percent, the local radio. A 14-year-old boy lost his life, hit by a TGV while cycling along the railway tracks.