Image: The train collision involved HŽ passenger and freight trains/Illustration CU
A collision between a passenger train and a freight train occurred on Saturday morning on the Zagreb–Bjelovar railway line near Škrinjari, leaving multiple people injured and forcing the closure of the line.
The Koprivnica-Križevci Police Department said it received a report of the train collision at around 10:08 on August 8. Emergency services were sent to the scene, while the injured were provided with medical assistance.
According to HŽ, the accident occurred at around 10:05 on the railway section between the Sveti Ivan Žabno and Gradec stations and involved a HŽ Cargo freight train and a passenger train operated by HŽ Putnički prijevoz.
There were no fatalities.
Firefighters pull passengers from the trains
Firefighters from Koprivnica-Križevci County were called to the scene of the train collision between Sveti Ivan Žabno and Gradec at 10:11.
After arriving at the scene, crews began helping people out of the trains and transported those with minor injuries in cooperation with emergency medical teams. According to the Croatian Firefighting Association, 21 people were injured and six were uninjured. One seriously injured person was transported by helicopter emergency medical service.
A total of 51 firefighters took part in the operation, including crews from the Križevci and Đurđevac public fire brigades and volunteer fire departments from Sveti Ivan Žabno, Cirkvena, Brezovljani, Sveti Petar Čvrstec and Križevci. Police, emergency medical teams and the helicopter emergency medical service were also at the scene.
Chief Fire Commander Slavko Tucaković, who visited the site, said firefighters secured the area and took measures to prevent a fire.
“Firefighters secured the scene and prevented the possibility of a fire by applying foam beneath the locomotives. Fuel from the locomotives was pumped into storage tanks,” Tucaković said.
Railway line closed, buses replacing trains
The railway line on the affected section has been closed to all traffic following the train collision.
HŽ said passengers will be transported by buses until further notice while the railway remains closed.
The cause of the train collision has not yet been established, and further details are expected following the on-site investigation.
