A serious collision between two trains has left six passengers with severe injuries, according to officials who visited the site early today near Krizevac. The incident occurred around 10:05 local time on the railway line between Sveti Ivan Zabno and Gradec. Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, and Maritime Affairs Oleg Butković, along with Adis Keranović, acting head of the Unified Emergency Medical Reception at Zagreb’s KBC hospital, inspected the injured and the train driver. They confirmed that none of the victims were in immediate danger, though three required intensive care treatment. The crash involved a passenger train operated by HŽ Carga and another by the Passenger Transport Company on a regular route. Initial reports indicate that six individuals sustained serious injuries while 13 others suffered minor ones. Butković stated he had spoken directly with the train driver and two passengers, offering them his support. He emphasized that there was no loss of life, which he called “a blessing,” and stressed the importance of determining the cause of the accident as soon as possible. He noted that both police and the State Accident Investigation Agency are conducting separate investigations into the incident. Keranović, speaking separately, described the condition of the seriously injured. He explained that three of the patients were transported via helicopter and two by ground ambulance. All three received emergency treatment and were stabilized, with expectations of a positive recovery. He added that they were currently under intensive care and would remain in the unit for several days. He confirmed that although their injuries were severe, they were not life-threatening. Meanwhile, Potpredsjednik Vlade and Minister of Defence Tomo Medved visited the scene and expressed gratitude to all emergency services for their swift and professional response. He acknowledged that the exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, noting that initial assessments suggest either a technical failure or human error. Medved highlighted that the primary responsibility lies with the relevant authorities to determine the root cause. He praised the actions of the local community in Škrinja, where residents arrived promptly with their vehicles to assist medical teams and firefighters. Firefighters played a crucial role in preventing further complications after the crash. Chief Firefighter Slavko Tucaković reported that 51 firefighters responded using nine vehicles, including a specialized fire truck from Đurđevac. They worked alongside medical teams to extract and treat the injured, transporting some passengers from two freight trucks to the Koprivnica General Hospital. After stabilizing the injured, firefighters focused on containing fuel leaks from one locomotive, which held approximately 1,400 liters of fuel. To ensure safety, they transferred the fuel to secure containers and applied foam to prevent potential fires. Emergency medical services were heavily involved in the rescue operation. Six ground-based emergency teams and a helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) were deployed to provide care. Local authorities, including Mayor Tomislav Golubić of the Koprivnica-Križevci County, commended the efforts of the medical staff, highlighting the collaboration between regional and national emergency units. He specifically mentioned the arrival of teams from Zagreb and Bjelovar, emphasizing the coordinated response that ensured timely assistance to all injured parties. According to data from the Croatian Fire Rescue Service, six individuals were unscathed in the incident. Initially, HŽ Infrastruktur reported up to twenty passengers aboard the passenger train, but later revised this number, stating that 20 people were injured and six remained uninjured. As a result of the damage, the railway track between Sveti Ivan Zabno and Gradec has been closed to traffic. Investigations continue, with the focus remaining on identifying the exact cause of the collision.
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