Two Adif workers die when an Alvia runs over a car at the Palencia construction site | Spain

At least two people died this Tuesday morning when an Alvia train ran over a van where the victims were, Adif workers at the high-speed works in Monzón de Campos (Palencia), at a level crossing. The Government subdelegation has reported the double death without ruling out that there are more deaths in the accident, as they are searching for more bodies of other workers who could travel in the vehicle hit by the railway. The workers were of Portuguese nationality (37 years old) and Indian nationality (40 years old) and were hired for the works in the southern section of the province of Palencia on the line that will connect the plateau with Cantabria. The events occurred at a level crossing at the crossroads between Monzón de Campos and Husillos, a provisional crossing, but signposted with several signs for those who usually use that crossing, many of which are construction employee vans.

The Government subdelegation in Palencia has reported that the accident involved Alvia 04273, which covers the route between Madrid and Santander, colliding at 9:56 with a car at kilometer point 304’180 of the railway. The critical place consists of a provisional passage through the works, municipal sense, in the Palencia town of Husillos. The line now has electricity and the option being used is to turn the train back to Palencia and have passengers get on a bus that will pick them up there to complete their trip.

The high-speed works to connect the center of Spain with the north, as well as the improvements on the A-62 highway, cause detours along the parallel national highway, where fatal accidents have also occurred. The authorities had initially reported only one death, although during the morning they increased the total number of fatalities to two, both contracted for the railway works in this sector of the south of Palencia, in the vicinity of Monzón de Campos.

The collision has caused the vehicle in which the deceased were traveling to become trapped under the convoy, whose users have been alighted and transported by bus, as well as other travelers who were going to travel by train along the affected section. The Government subdelegation does not rule out more victims, according to a statement sent to the media: “The search is being carried out for other alleged deceased persons who could have been ejected from the vehicle.” The photographs provided by the authorities indicate that the fateful intersection is marked with “Stop” signs, although the possible causes of this accident have not yet been exactly specified. The vehicle involved is seriously damaged and crushed by the railroad head.