Two killed, seven injured in central Spain rail collision

A collision between two high-speed trains in central Spain on Wednesday left two passengers dead and at least seven others injured. The incident occurred on the Madrid to Seville route, where a state-operated Renfe train struck the rear of a private Iryo service.

The crash took place in the Castilla-La Mancha region, specifically near the small town of Urda in Toledo province. The trains were traveling through an area characterized by vineyards and olive groves when the impact happened.

Josimar Medina, a Peruvian passenger on the Renfe train, woke moments before 9 a.m. to find himself airborne inside the seventh carriage. He and his partner, Vitoria Maia, survived because they were seated far enough back to avoid the most severe damage. Medina observed passengers with deep cuts, missing limbs, and severe head trauma.

Medina assisted a young American man who had been injured, moving him to safety while waiting for emergency services. The couple exited the train and helped other passengers until medics and Guardia Civil officers arrived at the scene.

Fredrich and Arabella Barilea, a couple from the Philippines residing in Dubai, were riding on the Iryo train. Fredrich was thrown by the force of the collision. He recalled hearing a passenger shout for everyone to get out, warning that another train might strike the wreckage.

Emergency crews from Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid flooded the small town of Urda with vehicles and personnel. A local sports center was converted into a triage station to treat the walking wounded. The response transformed the quiet town into a hub of medical activity within hours of the crash.

Lightly injured survivors were transported by bus to the triage area. The Barilea couple stated they felt too shocked to identify their exact location. They noted that the table they were using for work vanished during the impact, describing the event as a near-death experience.