A regional train derailed in Normandy on Friday night, injuring 44 people, French authorities said. The incident occurred in the Seine‑Maritime department near Cléon as the train was traveling from Rouen to Caen.
The 186‑passenger train suffered the derailment, and among those hurt was an 18‑year‑old woman who was flown by helicopter to Rouen University Hospital, police reported.
Investigators are examining whether sabotage played a role after a piece of rail was found on the track. A spokesperson for the national police communications service, SICOP, said the rail fragment was “probably” linked to the accident but spoke anonymously because she was not authorized to be named. Prosecutors remain cautious about drawing conclusions while the investigation continues.
France’s rail safety record includes the July 2013 derailment at Brétigny‑sur‑Orge, which killed seven, and the November 2015 TGV test derailment at Eckwersheim, which killed 11. More recently, a crash involving two high‑speed trains in Adamuz, Spain, in January, killed 46 people and injured over 100.
