At least 6 dead in Paris train crash

Associated Press

BRETIGNY-SUR-ORGE, France (AP) — France's Interior Ministry has lowered the death toll in a train derailment outside Paris to six and says nine people have been gravely injured.

The train, which was carrying hundreds of passengers, crashed into Bretigny-sur-Orge station Friday on the eve of a major holiday weekend. The interior minister previously said seven people had been killed.

Dozens of other passengers were injured. The crash is the deadliest in France in years, and President Francois Hollande abandoned plans in the capital to visit the scene.

Some cars slid toward the station itself, crushing part of the metallic roof over the platform. Images from the scene shown on French television showed gnarled metal and shards on the platform, and debris from the crash clogging the stairwell leading beneath the platform.

Two train cars, Nos. 3 and 4, initially derailed, then knocked the other cars off the track, Pepy said.

"Some cars simply derailed, others are leaning, others fell over," he said.

Interior Minister Manuel Valls said at least seven people are believed dead and several dozen injured, but added that the casualty toll is "in constant evolution."

The SNCF said the train was carrying about 385 passengers when it derailed Friday evening at 5:15 p.m. (11:15 a.m. EDT) and crashed into the station at Bretigny-sur-Orge, about 12 miles south of Paris. The train was headed from Paris to Limoges, a 250-mile journey and was about 20 minutes into what would have been a three-hour journey.

The accident came as France is preparing to celebrate its most important national holiday, Bastille Day, on Sunday, and as masses of vacationers are heading out of Paris and other big cities to see family or on summer vacation.

All trains from Paris' Gare d'Austerlitz were suspended after the accident.

A passenger speaking on France's BFM television said the train was going at a normal speed and wasn't meant to stop at Bretigny-sur-Orge. He described children unattended in the chaotic aftermath. He said there are swarms of emergency workers at the scene.