Julieta Gallego, 24, killed in Spain train crash that claims 69 lives
A former minister and a Civil Guard officer were also among those killed when two trains collided near Urda on Wednesday.
By Jacob Reynolds ·
Spain’s rail network experienced its worst accident since 2013 on Wednesday morning. A high-speed Renfe train collided with a stationary Iryo train on the same track near Urda in central Spain. The impact derailed carriages and killed 69 people. More than 100 others were injured, many with serious wounds.
The death toll includes Julieta Gallego, a 24-year-old long jumper. She competed for the Madrid athletics club AD Sprint. The club posted on Instagram that it was heartbroken by the loss. The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation confirmed her death and expressed condolences to her family. Gallego had a best jump of 5.9 meters. RFEF president Raúl Chapado called her death a blow to the athletics family. He described her life as unjustly extinguished.
Fátima Báñez, 59, was also killed. She served as employment minister under Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy from 2011 to 2018. As the first woman in that role, she introduced labor reforms in 2012 that made it easier for companies to fire employees. Those changes sparked mass protests. The Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations, which she chaired, confirmed her death. CEOE stated that her warmth and commitment left a lasting mark on the team. Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso said Spain loses a great political figure.
The Civil Guard confirmed the death of officer José Manuel Chacón, 31. The force expressed its deepest condolences to his family and colleagues. Finance lawyer Antonio Montero Domínguez was also among the victims. Legal news website El Derecho described him as a meticulous professional and tireless worker. Spain’s tax authority confirmed his death. He served as an inspector there from 2012 to 2016.
Bodies of the victims have been transported to the main forensics institute in Toledo. Families are providing DNA samples to help identify the deceased. Reports indicate that relatives are searching for missing people in hospitals across the region. There are fears the final death toll could rise.
This incident marks the second rail disaster in Spain this year. It is the worst in the country’s history since 2013. The collision occurred when the moving Renfe train struck the stopped Iryo train. Both trains were on the same track at the time of the impact.
Source: BBC News
