PARIS, France – In a shocking incident that has shaken the nation, at least 44 people were injured on Friday when a regional express train (TER) partially derailed in the commune of Cléon, located in the Seine-Maritime department of northern France. The train was carrying approximately 180 passengers when the sudden accident occurred on the vital Rouen-Caen line—specifically between the towns of Tourville and Elbeuf-Saint-Aubin—at 7:45 PM Paris time. This was announced by French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot.
Injuries and the driver’s health condition
Regarding the medical details of the casualties, the Public Prosecutor’s Office reported that an 18-year-old female passenger sustained severe injuries requiring her evacuation in a “critical emergency” state for immediate care. Meanwhile, 43 other passengers were treated for injuries classified as “relative emergencies.” In the context of the preliminary investigations, Rouen Public Prosecutor Sébastien Gallois announced in an official statement that screening tests administered to the train driver yielded “entirely negative” results.
Emergency Response and Police Investigations
On the security and operational front, the Judicial Police in Rouen promptly launched an extensive investigation to determine the precise causes of the incident and the circumstances leading to the serious injuries sustained. Immediately following the disaster, the regional prefect personally visited the scene to coordinate relief and rescue operations. Competent authorities activated the “ORSEC” emergency plan for mass casualties (NOVI). The site saw a large-scale mobilization involving the deployment of 130 firefighters, five specialized medical teams, and 80 emergency and relief vehicles.
SNCF Railway Network Procedures and the Fate of Passengers
For its part, the National Railway Network (SNCF) issued a statement confirming that the top priority at this stage is “taking care of passengers and then restoring traffic conditions.” The network explained that train movement on this line is completely stopped at the present time. The electrical power was completely cut off as a precaution to ensure that relief teams intervene safely. The uninfected travelers were transferred to a closed hall that the municipality of Kilion had placed at their disposal to provide them with temporary shelter.
