Villa Soldati level crossing tragedy
| Date | June 11, 1962 |
|---|---|
| Location | Villa Soldati, Buenos Aires |
| Country | Argentina |
| Rail line | Belgrano Southern Line |
| Operator | Ferrocarril General Manuel Belgrano |
| Type of incident | Level crossing collision |
| Cause | Crossing operator error |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Deaths | 42 |
| Injuries | 83 |
The Villa Soldati level crossing disaster occurred on the morning of June 11, 1962 in Villa Soldati, Buenos Aires when, in dense fog, a train struck a municipal bus carrying schoolchildren to kindergarten.[1][2]
The accident happened near President Illia Station where the Line Belgrano Southern crosses Lacarra Street at its junction with Veracruz.[1] The crossing attendant, believing the crossing to be clear, opened the barriers to allow a truck to cross. The truck was followed by the bus.[3] The bus driver did not hear the warning bell until it was too late.[2] The impact of the train virtually destroyed the bus [1] and pushed part of it 150 yards down the track.[2] Dozens of ambulances and a hundred doctors arrived at the scene. The injured were taken to four different hospitals where a shortage of blood and plasma resulted in an appeal for blood donors to which 1500 people responded.[3]
As a result, 42 people were killed and 83 injured;[1] apart from the bus driver and a female teacher.[3] The rest of the dead were children less than 13 years old.[1] There were no casualties on the train.[3]
A monument now marks the scene of the tragedy.[1]
References
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Coordinates: 34°39′56″S 58°26′57″W / 34.66556°S 58.44917°W