Death toll from train crash tragedy rises to 42

6 July 2006

VALENCIA — A 41-year-old woman on Thursday became the latest victim of the Valencia train crash.

Despite a series of operations, the woman’s life could not be saved, surgeons said.

Her death brings the number of victims of the metro crash to 42.

Vicente Gil Suay, director of the Hospital de la Fe, in Valencia, said: “It has not been possible to save her despite all attempts.”

The woman, who was one of 19 others from the village of Torrent, outside Valencia to die, was the mother of an 11-year-old girl who is being treated for her injuries in hospital.

At least 5,000 people attended a rememberance service in Torrent for the 20 people from the same village who died on Monday.

The metro line on which the tragedy took place reopened on Wednesday with fewer passengers.

Line One started operating again from early morning, though fewer people chose to travel.

Investigators have still not been able to re-open areas of the track near the site of the accident.

It appears the train which crashed may have been travelling at 80kmh –  twice the normal speed – just before the accident.

Authorities believe the driver, who died, may have suffered a heart attack or had some sort of medical problem.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news