Tunis, June 16 (IANS) At least 15 people were killed and 70 more injured when a train hit a truck south of Tunisia’s capital Tunis on Tuesday, in one of the worst rail accidents in the country’s history, according to the interior ministry.
A large truck hit the train killing 14 people on the spot, Xinhua news agency reported. The 15th victim died on way to hospital.
Most of the dead were passengers on the derailed train, according to the transport authority.
The interior ministry said the train was heading from the town of Gaafour, some 120 km southwest of Tunis, to the capital during the morning rush hour, when the tragedy occurred near El Fahes, some 60 km from Tunis, at around 6:30 a.m.
Initial investigation showed that both the truck and train drivers were over speeding before the collision.