Denmark train crash injures 18, five in critical condition
A serious head-on collision between two commuter trains near Copenhagen has left at least five people critically injured and 13 others hurt, in one of Denmark’s most concerning rail accidents in recent years.
The crash occurred early Thursday morning near a level crossing in a rural, wooded area close to Hillerod, approximately 40 kilometres north of the Danish capital. Authorities confirmed that emergency services were alerted at 6:29 am local time (0429 GMT).
According to police, a total of 18 passengers sustained injuries in the collision, with five currently in critical condition as hospitals continue to assess the severity of cases. A total of 37 people were onboard the two trains at the time of impact.
Eyewitness descriptions and images from the scene showed the yellow and grey locomotives heavily damaged, with smashed windshields and shattered windows. Despite the force of the collision, both trains and their carriages remained upright on the tracks.
A large-scale emergency response was launched immediately after the crash. Ambulances, police units, and medical teams rushed to the site, while all passengers were evacuated and the injured transported to nearby hospitals. Some of the most seriously injured victims were airlifted by helicopter, according to Gribskov municipality mayor Trine Egetved, who described the incident as deeply shocking.
Emergency rescue operations concluded roughly three hours after the collision, though investigators remained at the scene throughout the day collecting evidence and analyzing the circumstances that led to the crash.
Police officials stated that the cause of the accident is still unknown. “We can't provide any details for now about the cause,” said police spokesperson Morten Kaare Pedersen, adding that a full investigation is underway to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Railway expert Kristian Madsen from the Danish union IDA suggested human error could be a possible factor, pointing to issues such as signal misinterpretation or operational mistakes. He also noted that the section of track may still rely on an older signalling system, which could be relevant to the investigation.
Officials, however, emphasized that no conclusions have been reached. Authorities said the situation remains “dynamic,” particularly regarding the number and severity of critical injuries.
Local leaders expressed shock at the incident, noting that the commuter trains are widely used by residents, including students and workers in the Gribskov region.
While Denmark is known for its strong rail safety record, the country has seen several notable rail incidents in recent years, including a fatal crash in 2019 that claimed eight lives and injured 16 others, and another serious crossing accident last year involving a train and a farm truck.
With AFP inputs