The Mossos d'Esquadra confirmed that the fatal victim of the R4 railway accident in Gelida, which occurred on Tuesday evening, was a trainee driver who was in the cabin. According to the Catalan police, the victim was a man born in 1998, whose family resides in Seville. He was traveling with the regular driver and, according to the Bombers (Firefighters), possibly two other apprentices.

Initial hypotheses suggest that the accident occurred when the retaining wall of an embankment gave way and fell onto the track just as the train passed, at a point where the line runs beneath the motorway. Joan Rovira, the Bombers sub-inspector, insisted that this is the “probably” most plausible cause, pending the Mossos investigation.

In addition to the deceased, another person traveling in the cabin was seriously injured and had to be extricated by the Bombers, although they had “notable vital guarantees”. The territorial head of the SEM (Medical Emergency System), Alfons Martínez, confirmed that a total of 40 people were attended, including five seriously injured, five less seriously injured, and 30 minor injuries, most of whom were discharged shortly after treatment.

Once the Mossos d'Esquadra conclude their investigation, recovery tasks will be handled by Adif, the infrastructure manager, and Foment (Ministry of Public Works), responsible for the motorway. Rovira warned that there is a “significant volume of earth” and that removing the convoy and restoring the stability of the embankment will present “difficulties”.