35 injured in Prague train collision

Thirty-five people were injured, mostly suffering minor injuries, after two passenger trains collided in Prague on Wednesday morning, according to rescue services and rail officials.

The incident occurred when one train ran a red signal and crashed into a stationary train, said Dusan Gavenda, spokesperson for the railway infrastructure company Sprava Zeleznic.

Emergency services treated the injured, with injuries ranging from bruises and scratches to more serious conditions, including a jaw fracture. No life-threatening injuries were reported.

Firefighters evacuated approximately 200 passengers from the trains to safety.

Police reported that one of the drivers involved tested positive for alcohol. The driver was taken to a doctor for further blood testing.

Czech Railways, the national rail operator, acknowledged the positive test but suggested the crash may not have been caused by their driver. If the blood test confirms inebriation, the company said it would dismiss the driver.

This incident follows a deadly crash in June in Pardubice, east of Prague, where four people were killed and over 20 injured in a collision between an express train and a freight train.

Train accidents are not uncommon in the Czech Republic, a country of 10.9 million people.