2009 Romanian bus-train collision facts for kids
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Date and time: | August 14, 2009 at 14:10 (UTC+3) |
| Location: | near a Railway station in Scânteia, Iaşi County Coordinates: 46°55′17″N 27°34′07″E / 46.921486°N 27.568517°E |
| Statistics | |
| Deaths: | 14; 2 serious injuries |
The 2009 Romanian bus-train collision (called Tragedia de la Scânteia in Romanian) was a very serious accident. It happened on August 14, 2009, in Romania. A bus and a train hit each other near the town of Scânteia.
This crash took place in Iaşi County. Sadly, 14 people died in the accident. Two more people were badly hurt. At first, people thought fewer people had died. This event was the worst accident of its kind in Romania for 15 years.
What Happened?
The accident happened when a small bus, called a minibus, was crossing a railway track. This type of crossing is known as a level crossing. There were 16 people riding on the bus.
As the bus was crossing, a train hit it. The crash happened near Scânteia. All the people who died were on the bus, and one of them was a child. The train hit the middle of the bus.
The force of the train pushed the bus about 350 meters (about 1,150 feet) down the track. The main reason for the crash was that the bus driver did not follow the warning lights or signs at the railway crossing.
