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Spain train driver held 'for reckless manslaughter' | Spain train driver held 'for reckless manslaughter' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The driver of a train that derailed in Spain killing 78 people has been accused of "reckless manslaughter", the interior minister has said. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | At least 130 people were taken to hospital after the accident near the north-western city of Santiago de Compostela. |
Thirty were in a critical condition on Saturday. | |
People from several nationalities were among the wounded, including five Americans and one Briton. One American was among the dead. | People from several nationalities were among the wounded, including five Americans and one Briton. One American was among the dead. |
PM Mariano Rajoy, who hails from the city of the crash, declared three days of official mourning on Thursday. | PM Mariano Rajoy, who hails from the city of the crash, declared three days of official mourning on Thursday. |
All but three of the 78 people killed have now been identified, the BBC's Alison Roberts reports. | |
Investigators have been forced to use DNA matches because of the extent of the injuries, our correspondent adds. | |
Experienced driver | Experienced driver |
A judge was due to interview Mr Garzon Amo on Sunday, the interior minister said. | A judge was due to interview Mr Garzon Amo on Sunday, the interior minister said. |
"He has been detained for the alleged crimes of reckless manslaughter", Mr Fernandez Diaz said. | "He has been detained for the alleged crimes of reckless manslaughter", Mr Fernandez Diaz said. |
"There are reasonable grounds to consider that he may have been responsible for what happened, which must be established by a judge and the investigation." | "There are reasonable grounds to consider that he may have been responsible for what happened, which must be established by a judge and the investigation." |
The driver had been under police surveillance in hospital since the accident but he was discharged on Saturday and taken to a police station. | The driver had been under police surveillance in hospital since the accident but he was discharged on Saturday and taken to a police station. |
Police said Mr Garzon Amo had refused to answer their questions while he was in medical care. | Police said Mr Garzon Amo had refused to answer their questions while he was in medical care. |
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. | 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. |
The accident occurred 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 members. | |
Footage captured by a security camera shows the train crashing as it hurtled round a bend. | Footage captured by a security camera shows the train crashing as it hurtled round a bend. |
The train's data recording "black box" is with the judge in charge of the investigation. | The train's data recording "black box" is with the judge in charge of the 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
The local tourism board cancelled all festivities as the city went into mourning. | The local tourism board cancelled all festivities as the city went into mourning. |
Some trains have now begun running on the tracks despite some passengers' hesitation, our correspondent says. | |
According to official figures, the crash is one of the worst rail disasters in Spanish history. | According to official figures, the crash is one of the worst rail disasters in Spanish history. |