High-speed train accident leaves 400 passengers stranded in Odenthal.
A woman and her child were injured on Saturday evening when a train traveling at nearly 130 kilometers per hour collided with their car at a railway crossing on Kreitenmolenstraat in Odenthal. Despite the force of the impact, both survived with minor injuries.
Bystanders quickly intervened and pulled the mother and her infant from the severely damaged car before emergency crews arrived. The police confirmed that the front of the car sustained significant damage, but the ambulance crews treated the victims on-site for only minor injuries.
Inside the train, about 400 passengers were stranded for several hours. Authorities said they are still determining the right time to safely evacuate the passengers from the train.
Train services were completely halted between Den Bosch (’s-Hertogenbosch) and Tilburg until 9:30 PM due to the accident, causing disruptions in the area. Trains were not allowed to move until the site was fully secured.
The police and ProRail have begun an investigation to determine how the car ended up on the train tracks, while the relevant authorities are working to understand the circumstances of the incident and prevent it from happening again in the future.