Four people, including a 12-year-old child, died after their van was hit by a train in Galați

Four people, including a 12-year-old child, died after the van they were traveling in was hit head-on by a passenger train at a level crossing near Gara Ghidigeni, in Galați County. The accident occurred on DJ 240, in the northern part of the county, a few kilometers from the city of Bârlad.

The van was carrying a man from Ghidigeni, his daughter, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. The four were returning from Bârlad when they were hit by the train traveling on the Bucharest North–Iași route. All the victims were pronounced dead.

The railway crossing is not equipped with barriers, but it does have audible and visual signals. Initial information indicates that the driver may not have checked before crossing. Traffic police opened a criminal investigation into negligent homicide and are checking the exact circumstances of the tragedy.

Rail traffic on Railway Section 600 was halted. Services were expected to resume after 7:00 p.m.