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Spain train driver held 'for reckless manslaughter' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The driver of a train that derailed in Spain killing 78 people has been accused of "reckless manslaughter", the interior minister has said. | |
Jorge Fernandez Diaz said Francisco Jose Garzon Amo, who was slightly hurt in Wednesday's accident, had been taken to a police station. | |
Mr Garzon is suspected of driving too fast on a bend. Reports say the train was travelling at more than double the speed limit at the time of the crash. | |
He has refused to answer questions. | |
At least 130 people were taken to hospital after the accident near the north-western city of Santiago de Compostela. | |
People from several nationalities are among the wounded, including five Americans and one Briton. One American was among the dead. | |
Experienced driver | |
State rail operator Renfe said the train came off the tracks about 3 or 4km (2-2.5 miles) from Santiago de Compostela station at 20:41 local time (18:41 GMT) on Wednesday. | |
It was on the express route between the capital, Madrid, and the port city of Ferrol on the Galician coast, with 218 passengers on board and four crew. | |
The train's data recording "black box" is with the judge in charge of the investigation. | |
It is unclear whether anyone else is subject to investigation. | |
Renfe president Julio Gomez Pomar was quoted by El Mundo newspaper as saying the 52-year-old driver had 30 years of experience with the company and had been operating trains on the line for more than a year. | |
Mr Pomar said the train had no technical problems. | |
The derailment happened on the eve of Santiago de Compostela's main annual festival where thousands of Christian pilgrims were expected to flock to the city in honour of St James. |