French authorities are investigating the possibility of a malicious act after a passenger train derailed in northern France on Friday evening, injuring 44 people. A fragment of rail was discovered on the tracks near Cléon, a detail that has prompted prosecutors to examine whether the incident was intentional.
The train, carrying 186 passengers, was traveling between Rouen and Caen in Normandy when the derailment occurred shortly before 8:00 PM local time. Emergency services, including approximately 140 firefighters, were quickly deployed to the scene.
Passengers described a frightening experience. One individual, identified only as Louis, told ICI Normandie radio that the train initially jolted before the shaking intensified over approximately three seconds. "I couldn't stay in my seat anymore," he said. "The windows partially shattered, the stones from the track came into the carriage. It was really shocking. I'm still shaking."
Of the 44 people treated for injuries, one 18-year-old woman was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition. The train driver tested negative for drugs and alcohol, according to the Rouen prosecutor's office. The investigation is ongoing as officials work to determine the cause of the rail fragment's presence on the tracks and whether it was deliberately placed.