Mechanic Of Derailed Train in E Romania Investigated For Negligence At Work

Head of the Railway Transport Police Galati, Petrica Hahui, said Monday morning the mechanic didn’t observe the light signal when exiting the locality Beheci, and then tried to back up as another passenger train was coming from the opposite direction.

„Florin Mustata, the mechanic of the locomotive, didn’t observe the red light at the exit of Berheci train station. He then saw a passenger train coming from the opposite direction and stopped and tried to back up. The train derailed during the reverse maneuver,” said Hahui.

Hahui said the mechanic is investigated by the police for negligence at work, and his file will be submitted to the Prosecutors’ Office at the end of inquiries.

Hahui said that after the accident the priority of the police officers and the other authorities involved was to ensure the transport of the train’s 437 passengers.

„An important part of our job was to take care of the passengers of the respective train. Part of them were taken by two other trains that came in the area for this purpose, but there have been people who chose to continue their trip by bus or hitchhiked,” Hahui added.

The third car of the fast passenger train travelling from capital city Bucharest to northeastern city of Iasi derailed Sunday afternoon around 5 p.m. in Galati county, without injuring anyone. The train had left Bucharest at noon and was supposed to reach Iasi at 7 p.m..

Five other passenger trains registered delays following the incident.