DUTCH TRAINS COLLIDE HEAD ON - MANY INJURED

Dutch passenger trains collide in Amsterdam injuring dozens
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First Posted: April 21, 2012 - 1:36 pm
Last Updated: April 21, 2012 - 3:16 pm

AMSTERDAM — Two busy passenger trains collided head-on near an Amsterdam park Saturday, injuring scores of people including more than 50 seriously, a police spokesman said.

National Police Corps spokesman Ed Kraszewski told Amsterdam local news network AT5 that some 70 people had minor injuries and 51 were "seriously or very seriously injured." He said the victims sustained broken bones and neck injuries.

Fleets of ambulances ferried injured away from the scene.

AT5 posted photos on its website showing two trains that appeared to have collided head-on. Both trains were still on the rails and the double-decker intercity train sustained damage near some doors close to the impact.

While the damage did not appear too severe from the outside, Kraszewski said the carriages on one of the trains were spacious and that may have led to injuries.

"We assume many people were thrown around the train by the crash; against walls, seats and other people," he said.

It was not immediately clear how the two trains could wind up traveling toward one another on the same track. Kraszewski said the cause of the crash would be investigated.

The crash caused chaotic train traffic around western Amsterdam and halted all trains between the city's Central Station and Schiphol Airport.

A spokeswoman for Dutch train operator NS did not return calls seeking more details.