PALMA
A 76-year-old woman died yesterday afternoon as a result of serious injuries suffered when she was caught and dragged some 20 metres down the track by a Palma to Inca train.
The tragic accident happened at 6.30am yesterday morning just as Florentina Bennassar Salord neared the old unprotected railway crossing a few yards down from the old road bridge in Lloseta where she lived.
A full police and rail accident investigation has been launched but it is thought that the passing train caught her clothes and carried her down the track.
The train driver, who brought the train to an immediate halt after the accident, is understood to have sounded his horn continuously once he had spotted the woman but there was not enough time.
A 061 team of paramedics, an ambulance and police rushed to the scene as soon as the alarm was raised.
The body was apparently found some 20 metres further down the track from where the accident had actually happened.
The victim was still conscious when doctors arrived but she was suffering from multiple injuries to the body and head and hypothermia.
After stabilising her, paramedics decided to rush her to the nearby Inca Hospital for immediate and urgent attention before transferring her to Son Dureta Hospital in Palma for surgery.
Sadly, before doctors were satisfied she could be safely moved to casualty in Palma for a life saving operation, the 76-year-old passed away in Inca hospital shortly before 2pm. We did everything possible to stabilise the woman and protect her vital organs, but she is very weak and we fear the worst, an emergency service spokesperson said at 8am yesterday morning.
Lloseta was in shock last night and Bennassar's family were said to be devastated - the tragedy happening just days before Christmas.
The accident led to a number of delays in the Majorcan railway service and the driver was treated for shock yesterday.
The accident has re-ignited the debate over the continuing existence of unprotected railway crossings in Majorca.
No comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
Currently there are no comments.