Deadly Train Collision In N. Italy

At Least 10 Dead, Number Of Injured Unclear

ROME, Jan. 7, 2005 | by Jaime Holguin

(AP)  A passenger train and a freight train collided Friday in northern Italy, killing about 10 people, rescue officials said.

It was unclear how many were injured in the crash, which happened between the cities of Bologna and Verona, the Civil Defense department said.

Rescue officials in Bologna said about 10 people were killed, though the exact figure was still unclear.

The officials said there was thick fog at the time of the crash in Bolognina di Crevalcore, 25 miles north of Bologna, though the cause of the collision was unclear.

Police in the nearby town of San Giovanni in Persiceto said the first three cars of the passenger train were damaged in the crash. The ANSA news agency said the engine of the passenger train had derailed, and one of the cars was smashed open.

Ambulances rushed to the site, and a helicopter was sent from Rome, ANSA said. About 200 rescue workers were on the scene, and officials have pulled six bodies from the wreckage, the report said.

Italy occasionally sees minor train collisions, but deadly crashes are rare.

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