Train derailment in France injures 44, police suspect sabotage, tell me about this news in (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/france-normandy-train-derailment-sabotage/)
12-09-2026
A regional passenger train (TER) traveling from Rouen to Caen in northwestern France derailed on Friday evening in Cléon, Normandy, leaving 44 people injured.Key details of the incident:
- The Derailment: The train was carrying 186 passengers when it went off the tracks. One carriage overturned onto its side, while four other carriages were derailed. Due to the train’s speed, windows shattered and gravel flew into the passenger cars.
- Injuries: Out of the 44 people injured, an 18-year-old woman required evacuation by helicopter to Rouen University Hospital. Most passengers were left in a severe state of shock.
- Suspected Sabotage: Police and railway authorities launched an investigation into potential sabotage after discovering a detached piece of rail lying across the tracks, which officials noted was likely the trigger for the derailment.
- Official Status: Rouen prosecutor Sébastien Gallois stated that investigators are actively working to determine how and why the piece of track was presentspecifically evaluating whether it was placed intentionally as an act of sabotage or resulted from an accidental mechanical/infrastructure failure. Authorities are remaining cautious until formal forensic and railway analyses are completed.