Iran railways chief says high speed, obstruction caused train crash in east
Iran’s railways chief says initial results of an investigation into the June 8 train derailment in east of the country show that high speed and obstruction of the rail had caused the incident which killed 22 people and injured dozens more.
Mi’ad Salehi said on Thursday that the train driver could have prevented the incident if he had not increased the speed of the train just before the crash.
However, Salehi said investigators have determined that the obstruction on the rail line caused by an excavator had also played a role in the incident.
He said the excavator had been working on the location as part of an overnight operation to replace railroad ties.
The official said local railways authorities had ordered the repair project because of a sandstorm in the Tabas region, where the incident happened.
Judicial authorities in Tabas said on Wednesday that six people had been arrested in connection with the train crash. They did not elaborate on the alleged crimes of the suspects.
However, Salehi said the driver of the excavator that caused the collision had failed the sobriety test. He said a similar test taken from the train driver had turned out negative.
The train was carrying 383 passengers, mostly pilgrims from the central city of Yazd, who had travelled to the holy city of Mashhad in Iran’s northeast.
The crash that took place in the early hours of morning on Wednesday caused five of the train's 11 carriages to tip over.
Medical officials said 86 passengers were injured in the incident of which six people still remain in hospital.
Iran reports slight increase in mining sector exports in April-October
Immunity of Iran’s shipping industry to illegal sanctions
Iran parliament committee approves to lower car import tariffs
VIDEO | Paris march in support of Palestine women
VIDEO | ICC issues arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister, ousted regime war minister
120 Palestinians perish as Israeli war machine keeps ravaging Gaza
VIDEO | Struggles of Palestinian women amidst war, displacement
VIDEO | Hezbollah rains attack drones down on elite Israeli brigade
VIDEO | US biased mediation fails
Leader: All captains of criminal, Zionist, terrorist gang must be prosecuted
Iran further raises its oil prices for Chinese buyers: Report
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
